North Decatur
Truck Accident Lawyer

The rise of online shopping and speedy product delivery means North Decatur drivers, like drivers across the country, share the roads with an increased number of trucks. As more trucks move through neighborhood streets and interstates, the chances of being in a truck-involved accident rise. 

Call a North Decatur truck accident lawyer from John Foy & Associates as soon as possible following a truck accident. The injuries and property damage you sustained demand compensation, and your lawyer will help to ensure you receive it.

What to Do After an Accident

Victims’ safety is the top priority following an accident. Move to a safer area only if doing so will not cause further injury. If you are able, collect contact information from witnesses, take pictures or video of the scene, or gather other evidence from the accident. Your truck accident lawyer in North Decatur will use this evidence to build your case.

If you are fortunate to escape the accident without catastrophic injuries, seek medical attention promptly anyway. The effects of some injuries have delayed onsets, such as those involving internal bleeding or damage to the brain or spinal cord. Delaying diagnosis and treatment can lead to serious physical consequences. 

Also, if you delay treatment, at-fault parties may use that delay against you, claiming your injuries result from that postponement, not their actions. Follow the advice of medical personnel and be prepared to provide your lawyer with all reports, test results, and care instructions. 

Once Safe, Call a Truck Accident Lawyer in North Decatur Right Away

Just as early medical treatment protects your health, securing prompt legal representation protects your case, settlement, and overall peace of mind.

After your accident, you will likely be in pain, may require hospitalization, surgeries, or other medical interventions, be unable to work, and feel emotionally spent as you consider your future health and finances. This is not the time to manage a complicated injury case or negotiate with at-fault parties and their representatives. The good news is that your North Decatur truck accident attorney from John Foy & Associates can handle all of these tasks for you.

Statute of Limitations

In Georgia, victims have two years from the date of an accident to file an injury claim. Should you miss this deadline, your case will be dismissed, and you will not receive a settlement.

It is in your best interest to file long before the deadline approaches. Prompt filing ensures your lawyer has time to address any complications. And, the sooner you file, the sooner you can hope to see a settlement. 

Fresh Evidence

Evidence collection is more productive when your lawyer has immediate access to your case. Contact information for witnesses will still be relevant, and traffic camera or surveillance photos or videos are more likely to be available.

Your lawyer will also know what other evidence bears relevance to your case and how to collect it. If truck inspection and maintenance documentation, official accident reports, the truck operator’s driving records, or any other information serves your case, your lawyer will obtain it. 

Effective Negotiations

While you heal, your attorney will be your voice, handling all communication and negotiations with insurance adjusters or the at-fault party’s legal representation. These negotiations can be challenging for anyone without a legal background, but when you are in a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion, engaging in them can be downright risky.

Though regrettable, at-fault parties and their representation manipulate exhausted and stressed accident victims into accepting false blame or settlements far below what is truly warranted. You have already been victimized once. With a truck accident attorney in North Decatur negotiating on your behalf, you will not be victimized again. 

Finding the Cause of Your Accident

It is essential to file your claim against the right party. That party is not always the truck operator, though it may seem the obvious choice. There are many potential causes for a truck accident, and your lawyer will investigate all aspects of the accident to discover that cause and file appropriately.

• Driver error: Drivers who drive while distracted, fatigued, or under the influence, who ignore traffic laws, speed, or drive recklessly often bear fault for accidents. If drivers are inadequately trained, the lack of experience can lead to deadly errors.
• Overloaded trucks: E-commerce has contributed to more instances of trucks being overloaded. Retailers and shipping companies looking to move products fast, may “unofficially require” truckers to overload trailers. Overweight trailers can lead to tire blowouts, jackknifed trailers, overturned trucks, or because heavy trucks are harder to control, increased crashes.
• Improperly loaded trucks: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has specific regulations determining how cargo should be distributed, packed, and tied onto trailers. Failure to follow regulations can lead to cargo coming loose and hitting other vehicles or creating road obstacles.
• Vehicle malfunctions: FMCSA regulations require regular truck inspections and maintenance, both by the truck operator and more official inspectors. If inspectors fail to carry out their duties thoroughly, mechanical failures can result and lead to accidents.
• Defective vehicle parts: Truck and truck-part manufacturers are responsible for manufacturing and/or installing properly functioning parts. Defective or improperly installed parts can make the vehicle impossible to control or stop, leading to devastating crashes.

Whatever the cause, your lawyer will identify it and collect evidence to prove the at-fault party’s negligence caused your accident and resulting injuries and hold them accountable for compensating you.

What a Settlement Can Cover

No two accidents or settlements are entirely similar, but you can expect your lawyer to pursue coverage for:

• Economic losses: Including destroyed property, lost wages, and future lost earnings if you cannot return to work. All accident-related expenses and future expenses
• Non-Economic losses: Financial acknowledgment of your pain, emotional suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life
• Additional expenses: To fund changes to your living environment to accommodate your condition, child care, or other help to perform household duties you can no longer manage

Your experienced North Druid truck accident lawyer will carefully assess all your needs and fight for a fair and just settlement that meets those needs.

A Settlement You Deserve Is within Reach

Use your energy to heal, not to stress over your financial future or manage your personal injury case. Schedule a free consultation with a North Decatur truck accident attorney from John Foy & Associates today. 

Your lawyer will work diligently and expertly so you can collect the settlement you are entitled to as quickly as possible. The Strong Arm of Georgia has got you covered.