Did you suffer critical or life-threatening injuries in a commercial truck wreck? Are you anxious to find out how to make the at-fault party pay? Contact a respected St. Mary’s truck accident lawyer at John Foy & Associates for a free consultation today.
With our firm working on your case, you do not need to worry about how you cover your costs and get through these difficult times. Our firm will help you take legal action against the liable party so you can put this traumatic experience behind you. Learn more about how much your case is worth when you contact our team for a free consultation.
Common Types of Truck Accidents
Evaluating the type of truck accident that caused her injuries will help reveal the liable party. Truck accidents can happen in varying ways. Examples of common types of truck accidents include:
- Underride accidents
- Lost loads
- Jackknife accidents
- Single-truck accidents
- Multi-vehicle truck accidents
- Rollover truck accidents
- Truck accidents at intersections
- Highway truck accidents
- Head-on truck accidents
- Sideswipe truck accidents
- Rear-end truck accidents
- T-bone truck accidents
- Wide-turn truck accidents
- Blindspot truck accidents
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Ways Truck Accidents Happen in St. Mary’s
Your truck accident lawyer in St. Mary’s, GA, must carefully evaluate the cause of your truck accident after we know how the accident occurred. This way, we can more easily identify at-fault parties. Here are some of the top causes of commercial truck accidents:
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving includes a wide array of negligence or unsafe driving. Anytime a motorist operates their vehicle unsafely, it could be considered reckless driving. Common examples of reckless or negligent driving could include:
- Driving over the speed limit
- Driving under the influence of alcohol
- Driving while impaired by drugs
- Driving while fatigued
- Distracted driving
- Failure to stop at a traffic light or stop sign
- Failure to hold the lane
- Failure to use a turn signal
- Failure to yield to the right of way
- Making illegal turns
Truck Defects
Commercial truck defects also cause collisions regularly. Various mechanical malfunctions could contribute to your truck accident injuries. Examples of such truck defects could include:
- Issues with the airbag inflator
- Steering column problems
- Breaking issues
- Fuel tank troubles
- Seatbelt malfunctions
- Brake light failures
- Overloaded tractor-trailers
- Missing truck lights or mirrors
Lost Cargo
Lost cargo is another way devastating commercial truck accidents occur. When cargo loaders fail to secure loads, overload trucks, or do not adequately secure hazardous chemicals or items contained in the car, critical collisions can cause life-threatening injuries.
Who to Sue for Your Truck Accident Damages
We must figure out who is responsible for causing your truck accident damages. These parties can be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law and repay you for your damages in their entirety. Examples of parties who could be sued for truck accident losses include:
Trucking Companies
Arguably the most common party sued for truck accident damages, trucking companies must ensure the safety of commercial trucks and the confidence of their truck drivers.
Trucking companies are often sued when they violate Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) trucking regulations. Some truck companies will force workers to violate federal work-hour laws, while others will hire truck drivers without doing their due diligence.
Negligent Truckers
When truck drivers make mistakes behind the wheel, injuries are often far more catastrophic than in traditional car accidents. The massive size of these trucks makes them some of the most dangerous vehicles on the roadways.
Truckers who violate work-hour regulations, operate trucks without doing safety inspections, or drive negligently can be held accountable for their actions.
Other Liable Parties After a Truck Accident
You might be surprised to learn multiple parties could share blame for your damages. Your truck accident attorney in St. Mary’s, GA, will identify every party who contributed to your injuries so you can maximize the compensation you win.
Other parties who could share fault, depending on how your accident occurred, include:
- Cargo loaders
- Safety inspectors
- Maintenance technicians
- The owner of the tractor-trailer
- Dram shop
- Truck parts manufacturers and distributors
- Truck dealerships
- Municipalities
- Government agencies
Statute of Limitations for Truck Accident Lawsuits and Insurance Claims
Time is limited to file your commercial truck accident lawsuit in St. Mary’s. Georgia has a strict two-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits.
The time limit can vary if you file a claim with the insurance company. Insurers may require truck accident claims to be filed within 30 days of the accident. Do not risk your truck accident settlement by failing to file your claim before time runs out.
Compensating Truck Accident Victims
Your truck accident lawyer will need to thoroughly examine the various ways your commercial truck accident injuries and damages have impacted your life.
To ensure we account for every loss, damages will be categorized as special or general damages.
Special Damages
Special damages describe your out-of-pocket and financial losses. These are the ones that will cost you money or affect your financial status. Examples include:
- Medical bills
- Hospital bills
- Future healthcare costs
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Lost employee benefits
- Cost of replacing or repairing your vehicle
- Diminished value of your vehicle
- Co-pays
- Cost of a rental car
- Loss of household services
General Damages
General damages describe the losses that your St. Mary’s truck accident attorney must quantify. They do not have a monetary value as they are subjective. Examples of general damages, also called non-economic damages, include:
- Loss of consortium
- Physical pain and suffering
- Inconvenience
- Emotional distress
- Skin scarring and disfigurement
- Embarrassment and indignity
- Shock and shame
- Fear and anticipation
- Reputational damages
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer in St. Mary’s for Help Today
The individual or entity who caused your truck accident injuries should compensate you for your suffering and damages. Take steps to recover your losses in full with help from a dedicated St. Mary’s truck accident lawyer at John Foy & Associates.
To start working on your insurance claims and civil lawsuits, fill out our convenient contact form or call our office to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation as soon as today.
912-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form