Truck Accident Injury Frequently Asked Questions

Being injured in a truck accident is a frightening experience. If this has recently happened to you, you probably have a lot of questions. You are likely in a lot of pain from your injuries, and you are wondering how you are going to get your life back on track. 

The dedicated truck accident attorneys at Spaulding Injury Law are here to help you navigate this difficult time. Our attorneys are highly regarded in the field of personal injury law – both founder Ted Spaulding has been consistently recognized for his work by the National Trial Lawyers. With 25 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys can answer all your questions and help you fight for the full compensation you deserve. 

Contact us now for a free case review.

 

What Are the Most Common Types of Truck Accident Injuries?

Truck accidents often result in serious injuries, especially for anyone who was in the vehicle hit by the truck. Some of the most common truck accident injuries include:

• Broken bones
• Neck, back, and spinal cord injuries
• Head injuries, including traumatic brain injuries
• Crushed or severed limbs
• Partial or full paralysis
• Soft-tissue injuries to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments (i.e., whiplash)
• Lacerations and bruises

 

Why Are Truck Accidents More Likely to Cause Injury Than Passenger Car Accidents?

Trucks tend to cause more serious injuries than crashes involving two passenger cars because commercial vehicles are so much bigger and weigh so much more than passenger cars. Compact cars weigh about 3,000 pounds, while large SUVs weigh about 5,000 to 6,000 pounds. 

By contrast, a semi-truck hooked up to an empty trailer weighs about 35,000 pounds. The maximum allowable weight for a semi with a full trailer is 80,000 pounds. This larger size means a greater force of impact when these vehicles are involved in crashes. A greater force of impact typically means more serious injuries. 

 

How Much Is My Truck Accident Injury Case Worth?

No two truck accident cases are the same. The value of your case will be determined by the severity of your injuries, what kind of evidence you have to prove your case, whether or not you played any role in the crash, and other factors. In general, if someone else was at fault for your crash, you can demand payment for your:

• Medical expenses
• Future treatment needs
• Lost income
• Reduced earning capacity for the future
• Pain and suffering

For personal injury cases, including truck accidents, Georgia uses a modified comparative negligence standard to determine how much compensation you can receive. Truck accident victims can pursue a claim for damages (the legal term for compensation) from anyone responsible for their injuries as long as they do not bear the majority of fault for causing the accident. This means that even if you are partially to blame for what happened, you can be compensated for your losses.

If you are partially responsible for causing the crash, your compensation will be reduced by whatever portion of fault you’re assigned by the courts. For instance, if the courts find that you’re entitled to $200,000 for your injuries, but you are 10 percent responsible for causing the accident, your compensation would be reduced by 10 percent. 

 

What Is a Truck’s “No-Zone?”

A tractor-trailer’s “no-zone” is the large blind spots on the front, back, and sides of the truck where the driver has limited or no visibility. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration:

• The front no-zone area extends 20 feet ahead of the truck.
• The rear no-zone area extends 30 feet or more behind the truck.
• The side no-zone areas extend off the sides toward the rear end of the truck, with the right no-zone being much larger than the left. 

Because truck drivers have so much trouble seeing other vehicles in these areas, you’re much more likely to be involved in an accident if you drive in these blind spots. Stay away from a truck’s “no-zone” whenever possible.

 

What Is a “Commercial Truck?”

When you picture a commercial truck, you most likely think of a semi pulling a trailer down the highway. Tractor-trailers are some of the most common types of commercial trucks, but the term applies to any large vehicle used for commercial or government purposes. In addition to semis, other examples of commercial trucks include:

• Fuel and tanker trucks
• Delivery vehicles
• Freight trucks
• Commercial vans
• Utility vans
• Buses
• Construction vehicles
• Moving trucks
• Garbage trucks
• Cement trucks
• Logging trucks

 

How Can an Atlanta Truck Accident Injury Lawyer Help?

Trucking companies have significant resources at their disposal to fight accident claims. To get fair compensation for your injuries, you’ll need a team who knows what they’re doing and how to fight for what you’re owed. While you rest and recuperate, here’s what our lawyers will be doing for you:

• Gathering all the evidence needed to substantiate your case. We’ll dig through accident reports, witness statements, photographic evidence, surveillance footage, medical records, driver logs, the truck’s “black box” data, truck maintenance records, and any other evidence we can find to prove who was responsible for your injuries. In some cases, more than one party may be responsible for causing the accident. For example, if the truck driver’s employer knew the driver was violating hours-of-service guidelines by driving longer than permitted by law, the trucking company may be liable for your injuries along with the driver.
• Handling all the necessary communication and filing all your paperwork. A truck accident claim requires extensive documentation, and there are tight deadlines to meet. The most important deadline is Georgia’s statute of limitations on personal injury claims, which states that you have a maximum of two years from the date of your injury to file a claim for damages. If you wait too long to start your claim, you risk losing your opportunity to obtain any compensation.
• Fighting aggressively for the maximum compensation you deserve. We will meticulously document all of your losses from the accident to prove the full extent of your injuries. While we’re negotiating for a settlement, we will also be preparing your case for trial in the event that the other parties don’t make a fair offer.

If you’re ready to start your truck accident injury claim, Spaulding Injury Law is here to help. Schedule your free initial consultation today.