Georgia Truck Accident Attorney
The impact a truck accident can have on your life is undeniable. However, when you have suffered critical injuries in a commercial truck accident, you may be left wondering what your next steps should be.
Fortunately, a Georgia truck accident attorney at Poulin | Willey | Anastopoulo, LLC can help you fight for maximum compensation for your suffering and hold the liable party accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
Determining the Value of Your Truck Accident Claim
Figuring out how much you should be awarded for your truck accident damages in Georgia will be essential if you hope to maximize the amount you recover. Your attorney will need to detail your losses to account for every single one.
Fortunately, when you bring your case to trial, there are no limitations to the amount of compensation you could be awarded. Here is more about the various types of losses you may be entitled to recover as part of your Georgia truck accident lawsuit:
General Damages
General damages are also commonly known as non-economic damages. These losses do not have a fixed monetary value. For this reason, they are often more difficult to quantify. This means it might be difficult to place a monetary value on them since these types of losses are so subjective.
Your attorney will need to rely on statements from your friends and family, your physician’s prognosis, and even personal journal entries to validate the value of your non-economic damages. Examples of general damages you could be able to recover include:
- Compensation for the value of your diminished quality of life
- Restitution for the emotional trauma you experience in reliving the truck accident
- Compensation for your inability to continue participating in hobbies or activities you previously enjoyed
- Compensation for your inability to continue maintaining a relationship, including an intimate relationship, with your partner
- Compensation for the embarrassment you feel due to disfiguring skin scars
- Restitution for your reputation or damages
- Payment for the chronic pain, mental anguish, and suffering you might experience daily
Special Damages
Special damages have fixed monetary values and can be proven easily with verifiable documents such as receipts, quotes, bills, bank statements, and other financial records. These could be out-of-pocket expenses, outstanding debts, and future costs. Examples of economic damages you have the right to recover include:
- Your loss of income and diminished earning capacity
- Your loss of employee benefits, including retirement savings contributions, paid time off, sick time, vacation pay, bonuses, and salary increases.
- Total coverage of your medical expenses and equipment costs now and in the future.
- Costs of increases to your auto, health, and life insurance policies
- The costs of vehicle damages, including repair costs or the cost of purchasing a new vehicle
- Compensation for any damage to your personal property
A Note on Punitive Damages
There are many misconceptions regarding punitive damages. Also commonly referred to as exemplary damages, many truck accident victims in Georgia wonder whether they could be awarded punitive damages for their suffering. However, it is important to note that punitive damages are not a type of loss you are entitled to recover as part of your truck accident lawsuit.
The court system awards punitive damages to punish the defendant for conduct they have deemed intolerable. Therefore, any action considered grossly negligent, egregious, or reprehensible could warrant an award of punitive damages. However, you should never expect to be awarded punitive damages as part of your truck accident claim.
How Our Law Firm Can Help with Your Truck Accident Case
With so many truck accident lawyers willing to take on your case, you may wonder why you should go with our law firm. Here is what you can expect when you rely on Poulin | Willey | Anastopoulo, LLC:
We Will Investigate
When we take on your case, our first step will be to open up a thorough investigation into how your truck accident in Georgia occurred. We will need to examine the type of truck accident you were involved in, the cause of the collision, and all potentially liable parties.
During this time, we will also need to gather powerful evidence that can be used to prove liability based on a preponderance of the evidence, so the burden of proof is met in court. The types of evidence that can be used to support your case could vary widely. Examples of evidence that may prove valuable in your case include:
- Data from the truck’s black box
- Photos of your truck accident injuries
- Video footage of the truck accident on camera
- The truck driver’s chemical blood alcohol test results
- The trucking company’s employment records
- The truck driver’s cell phone records
- The trucking company’s safety logs
- The trucking company’s maintenance records
- Reports from truck accident reconstructionists
- Copies of police and accident reports
We Will Quantify Your Losses
Once your attorney has identified the liable party and gathered the evidence needed to support your case, they will need to review the evidence in detail to ensure every loss is accounted for. Quantifying your damages will be essential, particularly in the case of non-economic or general damages. Since these may be more difficult to prove, we must ensure we have the necessary evidence to prove their value at trial.
We Will Negotiate
Many truck accident victims in Georgia can recover specific compensation through insurance claims. If you have the right to file an insurance claim, whether, with your own insurance company or that of the liable party, your truck accident lawyer from our firm will be responsible for negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf.
This way, you do not need to worry about being taken advantage of, being pressured into settling for less than your claim is worth, or being tricked into accepting a lowball truck accident settlement offer.
We Will Advocate
There are many instances in which truck accident insurance settlements are insufficient to meet the injury victim’s needs adequately. If this happens to you, this is not the end of the line for your truck accident claim. Instead, your attorney will compile all the evidence we have gathered and move forward with a civil truck accident lawsuit.
Fortunately, there is no limit to the amount or types of compensation you can be awarded at trial. Therefore, this will be your greatest opportunity to recover maximum restitution for your truck accident damages.
Our Case Results and Accolades
Our team of attorneys always puts our client’s needs above all else. Here is what our former clients have to say about working with Poulin | Willey | Anastopoulo, LLC:
“EDITH HAS FANTASTIC SERVICE! Stormie was a fantasic touch too. The situation with Edith made me feel like I was talking to my mom. She listened with her heart and had a contagious laugh carried effortless by sincerity. Absolutely the best part of my day.”
-Houston
“I recently had a vacation that was ruined by an accident on the interstate, some injuries were involved with me and my family but was fortunately able to turn to anastopulo for help, they were quick and very helpful every step of the way through this case, they got our settlement and case taken care of very very quickly, I am grateful and happy that anastopoulo was there to help us with everything!”
-O.W.
“Best lawyer yet. I made the right decision picking them to help represent me and my children and my sister and her family. This law firm made sure they took great care of my family and i. Thanks so much the akim anastopoulo law firm!!!!!!”
-Lauren
“I have no complaints. From what I can guess was certainly not a top-priority case, I was compensated pretty quickly and better than I expected. Everything was handled for me essentially, the staff was great, especially the receptionist lol, she’s very sweet, and the whole process was very painless and simple.
Thanks again, I’ll be calling Anastopoulo if I God forbid end up in another accident for sure.”
-C.K.B.
What Are Contingency Fees?
One of the top reasons more truck accident victims in Georgia do not contact lawyers for help is because they have concerns that they will not be able to afford the cost. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions regarding the cost of hiring an attorney.
However, when you work with a Georgia truck accident attorney, you can do so on contingency. Here, you do not have to worry about covering any of the court fees, the costs of hiring truck accident experts to testify on your behalf, or covering any of the other costs that may arise as we pursue your case. Instead, your lawyer foots the bill, covering all of the costs that come up in advance.
Then, once we win your case, a portion of your truck accident settlement is used to cover your attorney’s fees. However, if we do not win, we do not get paid. This way, we absorb all the risk in pursuing your case on your behalf. We would not take on your case if we did not think we could win.
Be sure to contact our legal team for a free consultation today. You can sit down with a truck accident lawyer in Georgia and go over the circumstances of your case, find out what legal options are most suited for you, and learn more about how much you could be awarded.
Cause and Fault for Truck Accidents in Georgia
Figuring out the cause of your truck accident will be critical. In many instances, truck accident victims can only recover compensation if they show that another party is responsible for causing their injuries.
Fortunately, there is no shortage of parties who could share liability in truck accident claims. Here are some of the different causes of truck accidents in Georgia and the parties who could share liability for damages based on how the accident occurred:
Negligent Driving
The negligent operation of a truck is one of the top causes of truck accidents across the state. When negligent truck drivers operate 18-wheelers, they can cause devastating injuries. Examples of negligent driving by truckers include:
- Driving over the speed limit
- Failure to stop at a stop sign
- Failure to stop at a traffic light
- Tailgating
- Failure to yield to the right of way
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Driving while fatigued
It is important to note that if a truck driver is responsible for causing your accident, the truck driver can be held accountable, and so can the trucking company that employed them. Likewise, trucking companies that fail to properly vet truckers before hiring them, force truckers to violate federal trucking regulations, or fail to take action when truckers engage in unsafe driving practices can be held accountable when victims suffer injuries.
Dangerous Conditions on the Roads
Dangerous roadway conditions are a common cause of truck accidents in Georgia. When construction workers or contractors do not properly secure construction zones, potholes remain unfilled, or the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) fails to maintain the safety of the roadways, these government agencies, contractors and subcontractors, and other third parties could be sued for your damages.
Unsafe Commercial Trucks
When unsafe or dangerous trucks are on the roadways, they can cause devastating injuries. Truck parts malfunction all the time. For this reason, truckers must conduct safety inspections before taking their trucks out on the road.
Trucking companies also employ safety inspectors and technicians to maintain the vehicles. Failure to uphold the vehicle’s safety by the trucking company, truck driver, or truck owner is considered negligence. This means they could be compelled to compensate you for your suffering.
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer Serving Georgia for Help Today
The truck accident claims process may leave you feeling overwhelmed. However, when you have a legal professional working on your case, you can rely on your attorney to guide you through your truck accident case every step of the way. Find out more about your next steps by contacting a Georgia truck accident attorney at Poulin | Willey | Anastopoulo, LLC. Fill out our quick contact form or call us at (800) 313-2546 to receive your free case evaluation today.