Truck accidents are life-altering experiences. They can cause massive damage and disrupt lives in an instant.
Compensation for truck accidents can be quite high because of the extensive damages these collisions cause.
Determining how much compensation you should get is like solving a complex puzzle. Looking at the average truck accident settlement in Georgia won’t tell you much since these settlements can vary.
Working with an experienced Georgia truck accident attorney is the best way to determine the value of your case. At MG Law, we represent truck accident clients and excel in calculating damages.
For a free consultation, please call (770) 988-5252 or send us an online message today.
Severity of Truck Accidents vs. Car Accidents
Car accidents, while tragic, are often not as severe as truck accidents. Cars don’t carry the same power as trucks, so they don’t cause as much damage.
Likewise, cars usually have more stopping power than trucks, so drivers can slow down faster.
Truck accidents are often nothing short of catastrophic. Picture the immense size and weight of a commercial truck colliding with a standard passenger vehicle.
The result can be debilitating injuries, severe property damage, and even fatalities. These factors all make the average truck accident settlement in Georgia quite high.
Some other differences between car and truck accidents include:
- Vehicle size and weight,
- State and federal regulations,
- Parties involved in the lawsuit, and
- Type of insurance coverage.
These accidents have unique characteristics and complexities. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to calculating a semi-truck accident settlement, but one factor is always vita: delay will result in the loss of vital evidence.
Speed is critical in all cases, but it is especially important in a trucking wreck. An attorney must look at the circumstances and the victim’s losses to calculate a commercial truck accident settlement amount, and should get involved as soon as possible to make sure all evidence is preserved.
Key Factors Influencing Georgia Truck Accident Settlements
Truck accident settlements are based on a range of crucial factors. Understanding these settlements requires reviewing various elements that can influence the final amount.
Liability and Fault
Determining who is at fault in a Georgia truck accident is often the first and most critical step in the settlement process. But determining who is at fault is not that simple.
The truck driver, the trucking company, maintenance contractors, or even other drivers involved in the accident can share liability. The more substantial the evidence pointing to the truck driver or company’s negligence, the stronger the case for a higher settlement.
Severity of Injuries and Medical Expenses
The extent of the victim’s injuries is pivotal in determining the settlement amount. Medical bills can include emergency care, surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatments. The more severe the injuries and the greater the medical expenses, the higher the potential settlement.
Property Damage and Vehicle Repair Costs
The cost of repairing or replacing damaged vehicles is another significant factor in calculating settlements. Many truck accidents will involve significant levels of property damage because of the size and force of these vehicles. It’s common for vehicles to be totaled or need extensive repairs. Accidents that involve high amounts of property damage can lead to larger settlement demands.
Lost Wages and Future Earning Capacity
Truck accident victims are sometimes unable to work because of their injuries. The problem is that someone who can’t go to work is unable to earn money while they recover. Additionally, some injuries result in a permanent disability that can alter a victim’s future earning capacity. High-value commercial truck accident settlements usually include compensation for decades of lost earnings.
Pain and Suffering
Truck accidents take an emotional toll that often extends beyond physical injuries. Victims can experience pain and suffering, emotional distress, and a diminished quality of life. These damages are real, but it’s often hard to calculate the value of these noneconomic damages. A skilled attorney can help quantify the cost of pain and suffering and include it in the settlement.
Comparative Negligence in Georgia
Georgia follows a comparative negligence statute. Under it, the amount of fault assigned to each party can impact the final settlement. If the victim is found to have contributed to the accident, their compensation may be reduced accordingly. And if a victim is at least 50% at fault for the accident, they cannot collect any compensation.
Working with a Truck Accident Lawyer
Choosing the right attorney is paramount for building a strong case. Your attorney must have the experience and knowledge needed to maximize your compensation.
Truck accident lawyers offer invaluable assistance by delving into the intricacies of the case and conducting thorough investigations. Their familiarity with the nuances of truck accident laws and regulations allows them to propose fair settlement amounts that fully capture all your damages. They also leverage their negotiation skills to secure a fair settlement from insurance companies.
On rare occasions, an insurance company might refuse to settle the case. If so, your attorney will file a lawsuit and argue on your behalf in court. They will present all the evidence to support your claim and work hard to persuade the jury to award you damages.
Truck Accident Statistics
There were 415,000 truck accidents in 2020. These accidents led to over 4,400 fatalities and 101,000 injuries. What’s interesting about these figures is that 45,900 large trucks were involved in injury crashes. That means that just under 46,000 trucks caused over 100,000 injuries. Based on these numbers, the average truck accident settlement in Georgia likely includes multiple injuries.
Working with a Georgia Truck Accident Lawyer
Choosing the right attorney is paramount for building a strong case. Your attorney must have the experience and knowledge needed to maximize your compensation.
Truck accident lawyers offer invaluable assistance by delving into the intricacies of the case and conducting thorough investigations. Their familiarity with the nuances of truck accident laws and regulations allows them to propose fair settlement amounts that fully capture all your damages. They also leverage their negotiation skills to secure a fair settlement from insurance companies.
On rare occasions, an insurance company might refuse to settle the case. If so, your attorney will file a lawsuit and argue on your behalf in court. They will present all the evidence to support your claim and work hard to persuade the jury to award you damages.
MG Law’s Truck Accident Results
Our law firm has negotiated many truck accident settlements. We always fight tirelessly for our clients to maximize the value of their cases. As a result, the average settlement for a truck accident at our firm is quite high.
Some of our results include:
- $2 million for a truck accident involving a wrongful death,
- $1 million for a truck accident causing injury,
- $195,000 for an accident involving a tow truck, and
- Over $100,000 for several other commercial truck accidents.
Keep in mind that these results are unique to the circumstances of each case. Your attorney will help you evaluate the value of your case.
Contact a Georgia Truck Accident Lawyer
Our award-winning attorneys have decades of combined experience. We understand the difficulties in calculating truck accident settlements and work hard to get every last dollar for our clients.
Call us today at (770) 988-5252 or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation.
Michael Geoffroy’s law practice focuses on auto collisions, premises liability, wrongful death, and catastrophic injury. He stands up for the cause of justice throughout Georgia and on behalf of his clients every day. He is a leader in both the courtroom and the community, having been recognized numerous times for his involvement in each.