Truck Accidents
The most terrifying experience which any automobile driver can experience is a truck accident with a tractor trailer, 18 wheeler, or semi truck. The majority of these truck accidents end with the driver of the auto being severely injured or killed during the truck accident. Truck accidents, unfortunately, are very common on roads and interstates today. Many experts believe that truck accidents, tractor trailer accidents, 18 wheeler accidents and semi truck accidents result in a much larger number of wrongful deaths and severe injuries compared with auto accidents. Click here to contact an Atlanta, Georgia Attorney or Lawyer who handles truck accidents, tractor trailer accidents, 18 wheeler accidents and semi truck accidents.
Truck accidents result in severe, debilitating and permanent injuries. Although the severely injured person and their family face significant financial losses due to truck accidents, tractor trailer accidents, 18 wheeler accidents and semi truck accidents, the law provides the injured person with a right to recover their damages from the at-fault truck driver and his or her company. These damages include, but are not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages, funeral expenses or any economic loss caused by the truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident and semi truck accident. In addition, a person injured in a truck accident is allowed for the pain and suffering caused by their injuries and treatment. The spouse of a person injured in a truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident or semi truck accident is also entitled to recover for the loss of consortium or services of their spouse. While a financial recovery can never undo the damage done to an individual due to a truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident and semi truck accident, such a recovery very often will at least ease the financial burdens caused by the truck accident.
The corporation which owns and operates the truck and their insurance company will immediately start an investigation of the truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident or semi truck accident. These companies will attempt to limit their financial responsibility arising from the truck accident to the lowest possible amount. Accordingly, the truck company and insurance company have very well established, specific and elaborate procedures for handling truck accidents, tractor trailer accidents, 18 wheeler accidents and semi truck accidents claims, especially in the beginning stages of these claims.
Within hours after a truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident and semi truck accident the insurance company will begin taking recorded statements from the drivers and any witnesses. In addition, the insurance company will have the auto and truck involved in the truck accident examined, have photographs taken of the vehicles and truck accident scene, secure a copy of the police report on the truck accident and attempt to establish the level of injuries suffered in the truck accident. These items are often accomplished by the insurance company within the first week after the truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident or semi truck accident and many of them are completed within 24 hours after the truck accident. Click here to contact an Atlanta, Georgia Attorney or Lawyer who handles truck accidents, tractor trailer accidents, 18 wheeler accidents or semi truck accidents.
Each insurance company has a different approach or tactic for dealing with truck accidents, tractor trailer accidents, 18 wheeler accidents or semi truck accidents. However, a large number of insurance companies attempt to reach a quick settlement of the truck accident claim with the person injured. This approach is taken in an effort to limit or avoid financial responsibility for future medical expenses, lost wages and other damages that will most likely develop from a truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident or semi truck accident. A person injured in a truck accident needs to avoid this trap. Persons injured in a truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident or semi truck accident very often do not completely recover from their injuries for many months or over a year. Even after their initial recovery, the person injured in the truck accident may need surgery, rehabilitation or other extensive treatment.
Injuries caused by a truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident or semi truck accident may result in the person being permanently disabled even after surgery. Accordingly, the actual value of a claim from a truck accident can only be assessed after a physician or other medical professional has established a firm prognosis and treatment plan. In Georgia, a two-year period of time exists in most, but not all cases, in which to file a lawsuit for injuries sustained in a truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident or semi truck accident. Therefore, it is not necessary to rush to settle claims from a truck accident with the truck's insurance company. An injured person will only regret an early settlement of their claim from the truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident or semi truck accident when the injuries caused by the accident have become progressively worse.
Other significant issues develop for persons injured in a truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident or semi truck accident. For instance, the injured person's health insurance company which pays for the medical bills often will seek reimbursement from the settlement of the injured person's truck accident claim. However, significant limitations exist on the right of a health insurance company to obtain reimbursement from the settlement proceeds paid due to a truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident or semi truck accident.
Likewise, persons who were on the job when injured have a right to recover worker's compensation benefits from their employer as well as damages from the party responsible for the truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident or semi truck accident. However, the worker's compensation insurance company will attempt to obtain reimbursement of the payments they have made for medical expenses and lost wages. Once again, there are significant limitations on the right of a worker's compensation insurance company to receive reimbursement from the settlement of claims from a truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident or semi truck accident. It is important for you to understand the issues surrounding reimbursement before agreeing to any settlement of your truck accident claim. Click here to contact an Atlanta, Georgia Attorney or Lawyer who handles claims involving truck accidents, tractor trailer accidents, 18 wheeler accidents or semi truck accidents.
In Georgia, companies which operate trucks, tractor trailers, 18 wheelers or semi trucks generally carry a large amount of insurance coverage. However, the law in Georgia only requires companies to carry truck liability insurance coverage of $100,000.00 per person and $300,000.00 or $500,000.00 per truck accident. These insurance limits certainly may be insufficient to compensate a person injured in a truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident or semi truck accident. Accordingly, a person injured in a truck accident often must explore what other insurance is available as well as the assets of the company responsible for the truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident or semi truck accident.
Further, unknown persons or entities may also have responsibility for the truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident and semi truck accident. For example, if the roadway or a traffic light was defective, a government agency may be responsible for the truck accident. In addition, the injured person's own insurance policy may provide additional coverage for the truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident or semi truck accident.
It is a difficult and complicated process to determine the proper value of a claim for severe injuries or wrongful death caused by a truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident or semi truck accident. The process involves evaluating the nature and extent of an injury and economic losses which can be recovered, as well as the liability issues related to the truck accident. For instance, the location where a trial will occur and any prior injuries suffered by the claimant are issues which must be factored into any evaluation of a claim stemming from a truck accident, tractor trailer accident, 18 wheeler accident and semi truck accident.
Insurance companies providing insurance coverage for truck accidents, tractor trailer accidents, 18 wheeler accidents or semi truck accidents have significant experience in assessing personal injury claims from truck accidents and will seek to reach the lowest possible settlement. Therefore, it is important to have an attorney or lawyer with considerable experience dealing with truck accident claims working on your behalf. Generally, it is best to retain an Atlanta lawyer or attorney who regularly handles claims involving truck accidents, tractor trailer accidents, 18 wheeler accidents or semi truck accidents. Your attorney or lawyer must be prepared to file a lawsuit on your behalf if the insurance company is unwilling to settle your truck accident claim for a fair value.
If you wish to discuss your claim with an Atlanta lawyer handling truck accidents, tractor trailer accidents, 18 wheeler accidents or semi truck accidents without any charge or obligation, click here.