If you have been involved in a truck accident, you should contact an attorney right away. Truck accidents are some of the most expensive accidents a person can be involved in. Many truck accident victims will incur mammoth medical bills and lose out on months of wages as they try to recuperate. The road to recovery is long and full of challenges and obtaining fair compensation can be difficult.
After an accident, contact a truck accident lawyer in McDonough as soon as possible. Getting an early start on your case could make the difference between receiving a fair settlement that fully compensates you for your injuries or a skimpy settlement that covers few of your losses.

Causes of McDonough Truck Accidents

The federal Department of Transportation performed a safety study back in 2007 that tried to identify the most common causes of large commercial truck accidents. Most of the causes were related from driver error, although defective parts on the truck also contributed to many accidents.
Some of the leading causes included:

  • Brake failure
  • Inadequate surveillance/driver inattention
  • Over the counter and prescription drug use
  • Driver fatigue
  • Driving too fast for conditions
  • Road defects
  • Illegal maneuver
  • Pressure imposed on drivers to meet deadlines
  • Following too closely
  • Tire problems

Some of these causes are surprising. For example, brake manufacturers should have increased the safety of their products by now. Also, federal regulations strictly limit how much a commercial truck driver can be behind the wheel. These are detailed “hours of service” regulations which limit the driver of a truck carrying consumer goods to no more than 11 hours a day after 10 consecutive hours off. There are also rules regarding mandated break periods.

Truck Accident Injuries

Commercial trucks are larger and heavier than other vehicles on the road. Unsurprisingly, these gigantic vehicles cause devastating injuries when they collide with pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and passengers in smaller cars.
Some of the most serious injuries include:

  • Fractures. Bones can shatter into many pieces during a bad accident, resulting in a comminuted fracture. When bones are severely damaged, a person will need surgery to try and repair the bone. Horrific injuries might also lead to amputation.
  • Crush injuries. A crushed limb can lead to all sorts of problems, including shock and kidney failure.
  • Traumatic brain injuries. A moderate or severe TBI can cause a person to lose the ability to walk, talk, and remember. Sleep and behavior might also be impaired.
  • Permanent nerve damage. Broken bones and strained soft tissue can press on nerves, cutting off the blood supply. Unless the pressure is relieved, a victim can suffer permanent nerve damage.
  • Spinal cord injuries. Paralysis can result when a truck accident victim suffers injury to their spinal column.

Many people also die in collisions with large commercial trucks. Their family members need to figure out how to carry on without the income and services their loved one provided.

Can a Victim Sue for Compensation?

The victim in a trucking accident can receive money to replace lost wages, pay for medical care and car repairs, and compensate for pain and suffering. However, the person sued must have been negligent in some way.

Generally, our clients have brought claims against:

  • The truck driver
  • The trucking company who hired the driver
  • The manufacturer of the defective part that failed on the truck

Suing a truck driver individually is usually the least effective means of receiving compensation, since he or she might not have adequate insurance. However, trucking companies are automatically liable for the negligence of their employees and have large insurance policies. Truck manufacturers also have deep pockets and should fully compensate a victim for his or her losses.

You are not required to know who to sue. Instead, reach out to an attorney for help analyzing your case.

How Can a McDonough GA Truck Accident Attorney Help My Case?

In the hours after a truck accident, the trucking company should have an investigator on the scene of the accident. This person will be collecting evidence for the trucking company and might even try to speak to you at the scene of the crash.
Many trucking companies will do whatever it takes to avoid paying compensation for your claim. They might even try to pin blame for the crash on you by, for example, arguing that you were negligent as well.
Hire an attorney. At MG Law, our truck accident lawyers will fully investigate your claim. We are skilled at finding the evidence our clients need to win their cases. Contact us today.

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