Whether you call it a truck, an eighteen-wheeler, or a semi, these huge vehicles are capable of significant damage and destruction in a crash. A lawyer can help you claim damages and obtain fair compensation.
A truck crash is quite different from typical auto accidents because trucks are much larger and heavier than normal cars, and a truck accident often involves a long trailer. Common examples of truck accidents include jackknife crashes, capsized trailers, and accidents in blind spots. Damages also tend to be more serious than other kinds of auto accidents. Catastrophic bodily injuries are common, and the costs of medical treatment and vehicle damage may be off the charts. To build a strong case, we must obtain powerful evidence demonstrating the defendant’s negligence. Photos and videos from the accident, testimony from witnesses, and black box recording devices from the truck might be important pieces of the case.
Call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 for a confidential, free evaluation of your case from our truck accident attorneys.
How a Truck Crash Might Happen in Dalton, GA
Trucks are much bigger than ordinary vehicles, and accidents involving trucks might not be what you expect. On top of that, trailers are connected to trucks in a way that makes maneuvering them tricky. All these factors might come into play during a crash. Our truck accident attorneys can assist you with investigating the crash and working with the authorities to determine how your accident occurred.
Jackknife Accidents
A jackknife accident occurs when the trailer and truck no longer move in sync. Often, the truck might slow down while the trailer does not. When moving at different speeds, the trailer and truck might swerve, creating a sort of L-shape on the road. The trailer might swerve into traffic and hurt other drivers.
Speed might be an important factor in a jackknife accident. In many cases, the truck driver was speeding before they suddenly attempted to brake. Trucks cannot stop quickly when traveling at high rates of speed. If the driver brakes too hard, they might cause the trailer to swerve around and hit other drivers.
Capsize Accidents
When discussing a capsizing incident, you might initially think about a ship at sea. However, large vehicles on the road might also capsize. When they do, many other drivers might be affected, and damages might be quite high.
When a truck capsizes, the trailer tips over. Not only might vehicles immediately alongside the truck be damaged, but the cargo in the trailer might spill, causing additional injuries and confusion. Capsizing accidents tend to be serious. They might completely shut down traffic for hours.
Blind Spot Accidents
Trucks are known for having very large blind spots. First, truck drivers have huge blind spots on their left and right sides because of the length of the trailer. While mirrors can help truckers watch for other vehicles on their side, they might not show everything.
Second, drivers cannot see anything behind them. If you are immediately behind a truck, the trucker likely cannot see you unless you are a greater distance away. There are even blind spots in front. Trucks are very high up, and drivers might not see someone or something right in front of them if they are too close.
Considering the number and size of a truck’s blind spots, it is a good idea for other drivers to give truckers as much space as possible on the road. Unfortunately, this is not always feasible, especially when traffic is heavy. If truckers are not mindful of their mirrors and blind spots, they might severely injure others.
Damages and Injuries Common in Truck Accident Cases in Dalton, GA
Given how severe truck accidents can be, it is no surprise that damages tend to be significant. Your bodily injuries might be catastrophic and require costly treatment. You might deal with expensive vehicle repairs or the costs of replacing your vehicle altogether. We must also think about how the accident affected you on an emotional level and whether you are living with any psychological damage.
Bodily Injuries
Bodily injuries in truck accidents tend to be harsh, to say the least. Many common injuries include broken bones, severe lacerations, soft tissue injuries, bruising, and more injuries common in all accidents.
Truck accidents tend to come with a variety of more catastrophic injuries that might be long-term or even permanent. For example, many people experience spinal cord injuries that lead to permanent paralysis. Others might experience traumatic brain injuries leading to cognitive disabilities. Many accident survivors have been known to lose limbs and live with significant scarring.
Medical Expenses
Medical treatment is not cheap, even when injuries are less serious. People badly hurt in a truck crash often spend a longer amount of time in the hospital. You could be in the hospital for days, weeks, or even months after the crash. Even after being released, many survivors need to continue visiting their doctors and specialists regularly and frequently. The longer your treatment lasts, the bigger your medical bills.
Costs for medication, physical therapy, mobility aids, follow-up care, scans, blood tests, and more should all be accounted for in our calculations for damages. We should also account for the costs of getting to and from treatment, which might be huge if you live far from your doctors.
Vehicle Damage
While your physical injuries and medical treatment are your top priority, you should not disregard the loss of your vehicle in the accident. A standard car stands little to no chance against a huge truck, and it is highly probable that your car is totaled or close to it. Vehicle repairs, if possible, might be extremely costly. If your car is beyond repair, a new vehicle might be necessary.
We must also consider all the personal belongings inside your car during the accident. If you can recall all the things that were in your car, we can add them to your list of damages. Even small things might add up to significant compensation.
Emotional and Psychological Anguish
Let’s not overlook the emotional and mental toll of the accident. Truck accidents are, in a word, traumatic. People who survive these accidents tend to live with some psychological damage, like anxiety or panic disorders, PTSD, depression, and more. You might also face serious emotional turmoil from your injuries. Significant scarring, paralysis, lost limbs, and other permanent injuries that change the way you live take a huge toll on your mental health.
Call Our Dalton, GA Truck Accident Attorneys for Help Now
If you or someone close to you was injured in a truck crash, call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357 for a private, free assessment of your claims from our Atlanta truck accident attorneys.
