Truck accidents are unlike other accidents typically involving standard-sized vehicles. Trucks are incredibly large and heavy, and truck accidents are often devastating or even deadly.
If you are injured in a truck accident, your first concern should be calling for help. Once emergency responders and the police are on the way, just wait for help. If you can do so safely, take photos of the scene for insurance purposes and as evidence in a lawsuit. Finally, call a lawyer. Evidence that might help you includes the photos you took, witnesses, and details about the truck itself. Damages in truck accident cases tend to be significant, and your economic and non-economic damages might be very high. While many injured victims sue truck drivers for damages, the trucker’s employer might also be liable.
Speak with our truck accident lawyers at Howe Law about a free review of your case by calling (844) 876-4357.
What You Should Do After an Augusta, GA Truck Accident
The first thing you need to do after a truck accident is to call for help. Sometimes, people are badly hurt that they cannot call for help on their own. In that case, someone else at the crash (e.g., other drivers, passengers, pedestrians) should make the call.
You should wait for emergency assistance to arrive to get medical treatment as quickly as possible. Getting immediate treatment is important because your injuries might be severe, and we need your medical records to prove the extent and severity of your injuries in court.
While waiting for help to arrive, you should record photos and videos of the accident scene. These recordings might help save valuable details we can use later in insurance claims and a lawsuit. Remember, only do this if you can. If you are badly hurt, or it is unsafe to move about the accident scene, stay put and wait for help.
When you are ready, call a lawyer to discuss getting financial compensation for your injuries and expenses. It is never too early to speak with a lawyer, and our truck accident attorneys can often handle much of your case while you focus on resting and recovering.
What Evidence is Available in Augusta, GA Truck Accident Cases
The great thing about evidence is that it could be almost anything and come from anywhere as long as it is relevant to your case and tends to prove your claims. The bad thing about evidence is that it can be fleeting or in short supply. Our truck accident lawyers can help you gather the strongest evidence available to prove your claims in court.
Some evidence can be gathered right away after the crash. If it is safe, you should take photos and record videos of the crash scene and the surrounding area. This is common when people want to present some proof of the accident to insurance companies. Photos are also useful in a lawsuit as evidence.
Even if physical evidence is hard to find, we can construct a strong case based on witness testimony. Truck accidents are often big events with numerous witnesses, and a lot of people might have details about how the truck driver was negligent. Other drivers on the road, passengers, or pedestrians in the area can take the witness stand and explain their first-hand knowledge.
Trucks are complex pieces of machinery, and a malfunction with the vehicle itself might be to blame for the crash. We can obtain details about the truck from driver logs, business records, and inspection records. Additionally, many trucks are equipped with black boxes – similar to those on planes – that record things like speed and brake times. We can use the data from the black box to determine whether the driver was negligent during the crash.
Recoverable Damages for Injuries Sustained in Augusta, GA Truck Accidents
Your total damages calculations should reflect all the losses, injuries, and expenses you incurred because of the truck accident. Damages may encompass your economic loss measured in dollars and cents in addition to non-economic losses like pain, suffering, and humiliation.
Economic damages often include medical bills, property damage, and income you lose because you are too injured to return to work. Assessing these damages tends to be simpler because all we need to do is tally up your bills and losses. The trick is to make sure all losses are accounted for. Even small expenses can add up over time, and our truck accident lawyers can help make sure all economic damages are accounted for.
As mentioned, non-economic damages do not always take a financial toll, so assessing financial compensation can be challenging. Things like physical pain, emotional anguish, humiliation, and reduced overall quality of living should be considered when assessing non-economic damages. In the end, a jury usually decides the value of these damages.
Whom You Can Sue for a Truck Accident in Augusta, GA
When filing a lawsuit for a truck accident, most injured drivers name the truck driver as the primary defendant. Since the trucker’s negligence is the direct cause of your injuries, you should definitely hold them responsible. However, truck drivers are often unable to cover all the damages involved since damages are often very significant. As such, you might also want to sue the trucker’s employer.
Under a legal doctrine known as respondeat superior, a person’s employer can be held vicariously liable for that person’s negligent behavior under certain conditions. Generally, the negligence must have occurred in the line of the person’s job duties. If the truck driver was not authorized to drive the truck or was otherwise not in the course of furthering their professional duties, the trucking company might not be vicariously liable.
Contact Our Augusta, GA Truck Accident Lawyers for Help
To arrange a free case review with our truck accident lawyers, call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
