Have you suffered serious injuries in a truck accident in Waynesboro, GA? An experienced Waynesboro truck accident lawyer at Hawk Law Group can help you seek the compensation you deserve from the at-fault party. You may be entitled to significant compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Our lawyers have the proven experience you need. In fact, we have over 71 years of combined experience helping injured clients–and we’ve recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for accident victims over the years.
We’re prepared to fight for you. Contact our law offices in Waynesboro, Georgia, by calling at 706-437-9122 to schedule a free consultation.
How Hawk Law Group Can Help After a Truck Accident in Waynesboro
It’s never easy to be the victim of a commercial vehicle accident. Trucking companies have seemingly-endless resources. Their large insurance companies are skilled in scare tactics and use strategies to minimize your compensation.
At Hawk Law Group, our experienced Waynesboro personal injury lawyers are dedicated to helping truck crash victims get the fair compensation they need. Our experience and success has been widely recognized over the years. In fact, our firm won the largest personal injury verdict in Jenkins County.
We’re proud of the exceptional legal representation we offer, and you can trust us to:
- Conduct a detailed investigation into the crash
- Gather all of the evidence to strengthen your truck accident claim
- Locate all responsible parties and insurance coverage
- Calculate the true value of your case
- Negotiate with the insurance companies to maximize your settlement
Most accident claims settle out of court. However, our Waynesboro personal injury attorneys won’t hesitate to take your case before a judge and jury if necessary.
If you have questions, we have the answers you need. Just call for a free case review today.
How Common Are Truck Accidents in Waynesboro, GA?
Large commercial trucks play an important role in our economy. However, when drivers are careless, they often cause serious motor vehicle accidents. Nationwide, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported 5,005 fatal truck accidents and 119,000 injury-producing truck wrecks in 2019.
Across the state of Georgia, the Georgia Department of Transportation reported 12,212 accidents that involved large commercial tractor-trailers in 2020. 146 people were killed in these accidents, and another 3,795 people sustained injuries.
In 2020, at least 19 large truck accidents occurred in Burke County alone.
What is My Waynesboro Truck Accident Case Worth?
Insurance companies go to great lengths to reduce the compensation they have to pay to accident victims. They might claim you caused the accident–or simply try to downplay the extent of your damages.
To make sure you’re getting the full compensation you deserve, you first have to understand what your personal injury case is worth.
Our lawyers will weigh a number of different factors when we assess your case value, including:
- The overall severity of your injuries
- How the injuries will change your life, both in the short term and into the future
- The cost of your medical treatment
- Your lost income and loss of future earning capacity
- The emotional damage and physical suffering you’ve endured
Calculating your case’s value can be challenging. You may have receipts to support your past financial expenses. However, your future costs and non-financial losses can be much more difficult to prove.
Our experienced Waynesboro truck accident attorneys at Hawk Law Group have the resources to help. We’ll bring in trusted experts to build the strong case you need to win. Call for a free case review today to get started.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Truck Accident Victims?
Like car accident victims, semi-truck accident victims are entitled to two types of damages under Georgia personal injury law: economic damages and non-economic damages.
More specifically, they can recover:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
- Loss of consortium
If the truck driver or truck company acted with gross negligence or malice, you may also be entitled to punitive damages.
Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Truck Accident in Georgia?
Truck accidents in Georgia often involve multiple parties. Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence law. Under state law, injured parties can share blame for causing an accident. Sharing blame impacts the amount of money you can take home–and you could lose your right to compensation entirely.
You can only recover damages if you’re less than 50% responsible. If you’re 50% or more at fault, you’ll be barred from seeking damages at all.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Truck Accident Injuries
Truck drivers are often well-protected in a crash. After all, big rigs and semi-trucks are much larger and heavier than other vehicles. Typically, occupants in passenger cars sustain the most serious injuries.
At Hawk Law Group, we’ll fight to win fair compensation for all of your injuries–regardless of their severity. We represent clients who have sustained:
- Whiplash injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Nerve damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Concussions
- Burns
- Back injuries
- Organ damage
- Crushing injuries
- Chest injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
Accidents involving large commercial trucks are often fatal. You can trust us to fight for your family if you’re grieving after the wrongful death of a loved one.
What Causes Most Truck Accidents in Waynesboro, Georgia?
The FMCSA regulates truck drivers and trucking companies across the United States. FMCSA hours-of-service rules limit the amount of time truck drivers can spend behind the wheel. Trucks are also subject to weight restrictions–and companies are required to conduct vehicle inspections to prevent problems on the road.
Unfortunately, truck drivers and their employers often cut corners. Some of the leading causes of truck accidents in Waynesboro include:
- Violation of state and federal trucking regulations
- Distracted driving
- Driver fatigue
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- High speeds
- Aggressive driving
- Inexperienced drivers
- Failure to properly train and screen truck drivers (negligent hiring practices)
- Unsafe passing and dangerous lane changes
- Dangerous turns
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Defective vehicles, bald tires, and faulty brakes
- Steering and other mechanical failures
- Overloading the truck
- Failure to secure the truck’s cargo
Our attorneys will investigate the crash to determine the cause. Often, there may be multiple factors that cause a serious truck crash. More than one party can also be held liable for damages. That can complicate insurance negotiations.
At Hawk Law Group, our lawyers are up to the challenge. Your role is simple. Just call to learn more about how an experienced truck accident lawyer can increase your chances of recovering the maximum compensation you deserve.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Truck Accident in Georgia?
To recover damages, you must offer the insurance companies proof about who caused your accident. Our lawyers can help you gather the evidence you’ll need.
The following types of evidence can be relevant in a truck crash case:
- Video footage and photos
- Eyewitness statement
- The driver’s hours-of-service log
- The truck company’s maintenance records
- Police and accident reports
- Toxicology results
- The driver’s cell phone records
- The driver’s CDL license
- The truck’s black box recording device, which records data about the truck’s speed and function at the time of the crash
The results of our investigation will help determine who is ultimately responsible for paying your damages. Liability may be apportioned among:
- Truck drivers
- The company that owns the truck
- Maintenance companies
- The company responsible for the truck’s cargo
- Third-party drivers
- Employers of negligent parties
- Government agencies that failed to maintain roadways or enforce weight restrictions
No two cases are identical. However, the standard for proving negligence is the same in every case. You’ll have to prove that the at-fault party breached a legal duty of care and that the breach caused you to suffer damages.
It’s easy to be intimidated by the legal terms. Our lawyers can handle the legal aspects of your case. Just call for your free case evaluation to get started today.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Truck Accident in Georgia?
The personal injury statute of limitations in Georgia is two years. If you fail to file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of your accident, you will lose your right to seek damages.
It’s possible that you could have more time–but those cases are rare. Regardless, it’s always important to get started quickly when it comes to investigating truck crashes.
Contact a Waynesboro Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Do you have questions about your legal options after a truck accident? Call Hawk Law Group at 706-437-9122 for a free consultation with a Waynesboro truck accident lawyer today. We work on a contingency basis–and we always offer a free consultation.