Truck Accident Injury Compensation

It is a sad truth that there are so many deaths and injuries caused by large trucks on the road. It is our job to make sure our clients, or their families, are properly compensated for their loss after a devastating truck accident.

When people are injured or die due to a truck accident, there can be a very large settlement for the injured party and their family. Because commercial carriers must insure far above the private-auto minimum, recoveries in semi-truck cases are frequently much larger than in ordinary car claims — and the largest share of that goes to people left with a permanently reduced quality of life.

The FMCSA requires that all motor carries have commercial insurance. Large trucks that haul loads must carry between $750,000 and $5 million in bodily injury coverage to pay injured victims. This amount varies based on what is being hauled and whether it is hazardous material.

How Truck Accident Injuries are Calculated

If you or a loved one have been injured in a truck accident, you are likely facing the following issues:

• High medical bills
• Pain and suffering
• Long recovery times
• Drastic life changes
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Lost time from work and lost wages

All of these things are recoverable from the at-fault truck driver and trucking company in some cases. Your truck accident lawyer should compile a list of all of these “damages” in order to make sure you get the true amount of compensation that you deserve. For a quick look at what your truck accident claim could be worth, use our settlement calculator.

Rehabilitation Can Be Long and Painful

Clients often ask us what is actually included in the damages calculation.

The truck accident attorneys at Georgia Auto Law work from the very beginning of a case to compile every category of damages available. We even include expenses such as:

• Parking and gasoline for getting to medical treatment
• Prescriptions
• Lost time from work
• Lost time from family activities
• Future expenses you will have from the injury

Our attorneys include these special damages so that you can get your life back on track without having to worry about how you are going to make ends meet.

Truck Accident Pain and Suffering Damages

In addition to the medical expenses, being involved in a semi-truck accident also takes an emotional toll on you. Many truck accident victims suffer from emotional and psychological harm that can affect the person for a long time.

For example, truck accident victims often suffer from the following emotional, mental, and psychological damages:

• Loss of sleep
• Nightmares
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

These effects of a truck accident can have an impact on the victim for a long time after the crash, and can be very difficult to cope with.

Truck insurance companies try to pay as little as possible to compensate truck accident victims for these “emotional” damages. But, the truck accident attorneys at Georgia Auto Law always include substantial evidence to show nonphysical injuries so that we can get as much compensation as possible.

Our attorneys also plead punitive damages where the facts support them — conduct showing wilful misconduct or a conscious indifference to consequences, such as road rage or driving under the influence. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1 these are capped at $250,000 in most cases, but the cap does not apply where the driver was impaired.

Truck Accident Injuries are Very Serious and Can Leave Permanent Damage

Injuries suffered in an accident with a large truck can be wide-ranging. Because the severity of the crash can vary, injuries also vary from case to case.

The types of truck accident injuries we see often from an accident with a truck are:

• Spinal and neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Broken bones
• Head injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Organ damage
• Soft tissue damage

It is also possible to suffer burns due to a fire or explosion in the truck accident. Burns are especially harmful because they are incredibly painful and often require significant post-accident treatment. Burns can also cause death due to infection.

These truck accident injuries take a physical toll, but they also require long hospital stays and extended periods of rehabilitation and physical therapy. Truck accident injury cost is very high and can lead to enormous medical debt. Combine this with the fact that the truck accident victim is likely missing work, then the financial burden is made even worse.

Truck Accident Injury Compensation

Because of the significant financial impact a truck accident can have, substantial truck accident injury compensation is needed to get you back on your feet. Georgia Auto Law stands by you to provide exactly that.

We know how much your life can be changed by a truck accident, and our truck accident attorneys will help you get a settlement that will get your life back on track. Or, if a wrongful death is involved, help the family get the financial security they need.

Truck Accident Statistics: Where and When Crashes Happen Most

Truck collisions cluster on particular kinds of road. Federal data has consistently put the majority of fatal large-truck crashes on rural roads, with a further quarter on interstates.

The reasons differ. Interstates concentrate speed and volume; rural roads add undivided carriageways, longer emergency response times, and the head-on exposure that comes with both.

Time of day plays a role too. Most truck crashes happen in daylight hours, simply because that is when most freight moves. Do not read the reverse into that: the overnight hours have far fewer vehicles but a far higher fatality rate per mile travelled, because that is when impairment and fatigue concentrate. Fewer crashes is not the same as safer driving.

Weekdays also account for the largest number of truck accident fatalities, which surprises people who expect weekends to be worse. The explanation is the same as for time of day: commercial traffic runs Monday to Friday.

Truck Crash Attorneys at Georgia Auto Law

The truck accident attorneys at Georgia Auto Law work solely on these kinds of cases. We investigate the real causes of truck accidents rather than accepting the carrier's account of them.

Our investigations include police reports, video footage, photography, witness accounts, accident reconstruction, and black box reports. Our vast experience in truck accident cases means that we know how to help you both with your medical treatment and with the legal knowledge needed to win the case. You do not have to go at this alone, our team is here for you.

If you, or a loved one, have been injured in an accident with a large truck–time is of the essence. Our truck accident attorneys will work day and night to make sure your rights are protected. Call us anytime at 404-662-4949 for a completely free consultation. We are available 24 hours a day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a Georgia truck-accident claim?

Two years from the date of the crash under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 for personal injury. Cargo or property claims have four years under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-32. However, evidence-preservation letters to the carrier should go out within days to prevent logbook and ELD data from being overwritten.

Can I sue both the truck driver and the trucking company?

Yes. Under Georgia respondeat superior law, the trucking company is generally liable for the driver’s on-duty negligence. The carrier also has independent duties to inspect, train, supervise, and route — violations of those duties create direct claims against the company beyond the driver’s actions.

What evidence is unique to truck-accident cases?

Federal regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration require commercial carriers to maintain driver logs, hours-of-service records, electronic logging device (ELD) data, drug and alcohol test results, maintenance records, and post-crash inspection reports. These records have short retention periods and must be preserved by formal demand.

How much insurance do trucking companies carry in Georgia?

Interstate commercial carriers must maintain at least $750,000 in liability coverage under FMCSA regulations — far above the Georgia auto minimum of $25,000. Many carriers exceed the federal floor and carry $1 million or more, which is why truck-crash recoveries can be substantially larger than passenger-vehicle cases.