Decatur Truck Accident Lawyer

Decatur Truck Accident Attorney

Large commercial trucks are vital to the economy of Georgia, but they are also some of the most inherently dangerous vehicles on the road due to their size, weight, and lack of maneuverability compared to smaller passenger cars. If you or a family member recently suffered injuries in a truck accident, you need to speak with an experienced Decatur truck accident lawyer to determine your most viable recovery options.

The consequences of a truck accident can last for months or even years. In some cases, it can change the victim’s life forever. From serious injuries to burdensome financial obligations, you shouldn’t have to bear the consequences alone. If your accident was the result of negligence, a Decatur personal injury lawyer can help you hold the responsible party accountable and get you the compensation you deserve. Call us today at 404-975-1775 for immediate assistance. Our office is located downtown at 1 West Court Square, Suite 750.

For an Immediate Consultation call us at 404-975-1775

Helping Truck Accident Victims Recover in Decatur, GA

The team at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm excels at providing responsive, compassionate, and results-driven legal counsel to injured clients in the Decatur area. If you have been injured in any vehicle accident due to another driver’s negligence or illegal actions behind the wheel, your recovery may be more challenging than you initially expected. While it is technically possible for you to pursue recovery on your own, you are more likely to succeed with an attorney’s help.

Truck accident claims tend to be more challenging to resolve than standard passenger car accident cases in Decatur. This is due to the fact that liability often falls to more than one party or may be initially unclear. It is also possible for such an accident to cause harm to multiple victims, and it will take time to fully assess the damage and accurately determine fault. In the meantime, a victim’s losses will continue to compound.

Our goal for your truck accident case is to secure the maximum recovery possible in the shortest timeframe possible. We know how to navigate the complex auto insurance claim filing process and how to help our clients resolve unexpected problems they encounter with insurance carriers. We also know how to help our clients determine whether they can pursue additional compensation through civil claims.

Whatever your case entails, trust Merritt & Merritt Law Firm to provide unwavering legal representation through all stages of your recovery. We have a strong reputation as a leading choice for personal injury counsel in the Decatur area due to our commitment to client-focused legal counsel and our record of successful cases. We will assess the details of your situation and help develop the optimal recovery strategy.

Injured? You May Be Entitled to Compensation

Many accident victims assume that their accident was unavoidable and therefore no one is at fault. Unfortunately, this is often not the case. Many accidents are the result of someone else’s carelessness, and those who fail to pursue claims wind up with uncovered losses.

If your accident was caused by negligence on the part of the truck driver, the trucking company, or some other party, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses.

Your claim could include compensation for the following:

• Your Medical Expenses: These include both those covered by health insurance as well as your out-of-pocket costs such as copays and deductibles. It also includes your current and future medical expenses.
• Your Lost Income: If you are unable to work for any period of time, you may be entitled to be compensated for any lost wages. This includes having to take days off to go to doctor’s appointments as well as extended leave due to disability.
• Lost Earning Capacity: For those who are unable to work due to permanent disability, you may be entitled to compensation for what you would have earned had you been able to continue in your career.
• Loss of Consortium: You may be entitled to compensation if your injuries have affected your relationship with your partner.
• Pain and Suffering: You may also be entitled to compensation for the physical pain and mental anguish you suffer as a result of your accident.

People who are not represented by attorneys typically settle their claims for a fraction of what they are worth. If you have been injured in a truck accident caused by negligence, you deserve to be made whole. An experienced Decatur truck accident lawyer will be able to provide you with an estimate of the value of your claim at the initial consultation.

Proving Fault for Your Truck Accident in Decatur, GA

In Decatur, Georgia, the fault rule applies to all vehicle accident cases. This means it is crucial to prove fault for your recent accident before you will be able to recover any compensation through an auto insurance claim or a personal injury suit against the at-fault driver. You will need to gather various forms of evidence to accomplish this, some of which you may be unable to secure alone. The right attorney can streamline this process and help build the foundation of your case.

You may need to obtain traffic camera recordings, cell phone records from the other drivers involved in the accident, and statements from witnesses who saw the accident happen. Once you obtain the evidence you need to prove liability, you can proceed with claiming compensation for your damages.

Truck accidents can occur for the same reasons that other accidents happen. Distracted driving, speeding, and intoxicated driving are just a few examples of this. However, trucks are also vulnerable to additional risk factors like improperly packed cargo, ineffective truck maintenance, and failure to adhere to trucking industry regulations. Your Decatur truck accident lawyer will know how to determine whether any such issues played a role in your accident.

Recovering Compensation for a Truck Accident in Decatur, GA

Once you have identified all liable parties and proven how the accident happened, the first step in your recovery process is typically filing an auto insurance claim. Georgia requires all drivers to have auto insurance with liability coverage, and if a driver causes an accident, their insurance will go toward paying for the injured driver’s damages. However, if their insurance does not fully cover the victim’s losses, a personal injury suit will be a necessary next step.

Your Decatur truck accident lawyer will make dealing with insurance company representatives easier, and they can help you address any bad faith you encounter if an insurer does not handle your claim appropriately. Once you receive your settlement, your attorney can ensure it is acceptable and then help pursue additional compensation through a personal injury claim. This type of claim can potentially enhance your recovery by a sizeable margin.

The state’s personal injury laws enable an injured plaintiff to claim full repayment of all their economic losses, such as their property damage, medical expenses, and lost income. This includes anticipated future damages as well. For example, if the defendant caused a serious accident that resulted in the plaintiff suffering a catastrophic injury, the plaintiff may be unable to work in the future.

Your Decatur truck accident lawyer will help accurately assess the extent of your immediate and future economic damages. They will also help you determine a suitable amount of pain and suffering compensation to seek from the defendant. There is no cap on the amount of pain and suffering compensation a plaintiff is entitled to claim from a defendant, so your attorney can assist you in maximizing this aspect of your recovery.

Start Working Toward Recovery Today

The right legal representative can make every aspect of your truck accident claim easier to manage and more likely to yield the results you hope to see. The team at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm has years of professional experience handling a wide range of complex personal injury cases, including those arising from truck accidents. We know the various legal challenges you might encounter in your attempts to recover your losses.

When you choose our firm to represent your case, you can expect personalized attention to detail and responsive communication with our team. We will carefully assist you in gathering evidence to build your case, guide you through the insurance claim filing process, and build a strong personal injury suit for you if necessary to ensure the fullest possible recovery.
Contacting a Decatur truck accident lawyer as quickly as possible is one of the most important steps you will take in resolving your truck accident claim with optimal results.

Potential Liability Issues in Your Decatur Truck Accident Case

One of the things that make truck accidents unique is that they are often far more complex than passenger vehicle accidents.

Some of the potential issues that may be involved in your case include the following:

• There may be more than one vehicle involved. As a result, there may be more than one party responsible for causing the accident. For example, the truck driver may have started the accident when they swerved to avoid another vehicle. If you were struck by another vehicle that collided with the truck, they may have been following too closely and may be partially at fault for any injuries you suffered. Lastly, if multiple parties were injured, you may have multiple claims competing for the same limited pool of funds.
• Trucking companies attempt to shield themselves from liability by hiring drivers as independent contractors. Generally speaking, employers are liable for the negligence of their employees. This means that the trucking company can be held liable when its drivers are negligent. Hiring drivers as independent contractors means that they are not employees of the trucking company, and can therefore complicate the situation.
• Trucking accidents can be caused by more than just negligence on the part of the driver or trucking company. The truck may have suffered a mechanical failure due to poor work by a mechanic or by defective parts. Or these issues could have been contributing factors. Determining what caused the accident and therefore who should be held responsible is a complex analysis, and you may have to pursue a claim against multiple parties or entities.

It is often the case that the trucking company will try to quickly settle your case. They do this in order to limit their exposure and pay as little as possible on your claim. If you have been injured in a truck accident, a Decatur truck accident attorney can help you get fair compensation to cover your medical bills, lost income, and your pain and suffering.

What a Decatur, GA Truck Accident Attorney Can Do for You

They Can Determine Whether You Have a Claim

Most people have no idea as to whether or not they have a claim, or how strong their claim may be. An experienced Decatur truck accident attorney can give you a candid assessment of your case and identify its strengths and weaknesses. This way you will know what your options are from the start.

A Decatur Truck Accident Attorney Can Help You Gather the Evidence You Need

In order to get fair compensation, you need to be able to prove that the driver or the trucking company was negligent, and their negligence caused the accident that resulted in your injuries. Working with a lawyer means that they can gather the evidence you need to prove your case so that you can focus on your recovery.

Your Lawyer Can Handle Every Step of the Insurance Claim Process

Missteps and misstatements can undermine the value of your claim. An experienced truck accident attorney will know what needs to be done to get results as quickly as possible. From documenting and submitting your claim to negotiating a settlement, a lawyer can handle all of the work associated with the insurance claim process.

Your Lawyer Can Fight for You in Court

Unfortunately, not every case can be settled out of court – sometimes your best option is to file a lawsuit. An experienced Decatur truck accident attorney will know when is the right time to file suit and how to navigate the court system in order to obtain the best possible result.

A Decatur Truck Accident Attorney Empowers You to Make the Decisions

Ultimately, this is your case and all of the decisions about how to proceed are yours. Your lawyer provides you with the information and legal advice you need to make an informed decision about what’s best for you and your family.

Decatur Truck Accident Law FAQs

Q: How Long Will It Take to Receive a Truck Accident Settlement in Decatur, GA?

A: The time it could take for you to receive your truck accident settlement in Decatur largely depends on whether liability for your accident is clear and whether the defendant agrees to settle your claim. If you can fully recover your losses through insurance, it may only take a few weeks. Settling a personal injury suit may require a few weeks more. If you must litigate the case, it could take several months to more than a year to complete.

Q: How Much Compensation Can I Receive for a Truck Accident in Decatur, GA?

A: The amount of compensation you can receive for a truck accident in Decatur depends on the scope of your damages and whether you bear any partial liability for causing those damages. Your Decatur truck accident lawyer can help accurately assess the extent of the damages you are eligible to claim and determine the most viable methods of maximizing your recovery. They can provide an estimate of the total potential value of your case.

Q: What Happens When I Share Fault for an Accident?

A: If you share fault for an accident in Georgia, the state’s modified comparative fault rule will apply to your case, and you will lose a percentage of the total compensation claimed from the defendant. As long as you are less than 50% at fault, your fault percentage is taken from the case award, and you keep the rest. If you are more than 50% at fault, you lose the ability to recover compensation from the defendant.

Q: Why Should I Hire a Decatur Truck Accident Lawyer?

A: You should hire a Decatur truck accident lawyer because a truck accident case is a unique type of motor vehicle case that can be extremely difficult for the average person to resolve on their own. You are not only more likely to succeed with your recovery efforts but also recover in a timelier manner and with better overall results than you could expect if you tried to handle your recovery process unassisted by legal counsel.

Q: What Does It Cost to Hire a Decatur Truck Accident Lawyer?

A: The cost to hire a Decatur truck accident lawyer depends on the attorney’s billing policy. Merritt & Merritt Law Firm offers contingency fee billing to our clients, which means you will only pay our firm a fee if and when we win your case. There is no risk of paying more for legal representation than you win in compensation, and there is no fee at all if we are unable to secure a recovery for you.

The team at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm has successfully helped many past clients recover from their accidents, and we are ready to put our skills to work in your impending truck accident case. If you are unsure how to prove fault, how to assess the extent of your damages, or what type of compensation you can claim from the at-fault driver, we can provide the guidance you need. Contact us today and schedule your free consultation with a Decatur truck accident lawyer.

Decatur Truck Accident Resources

• Decatur Police Department
  420 West Trinity Place
  Decatur, GA 30030
  Phone: (404) 373-6551
• Decatur Health Department
  DeKalb County, 445 Winn Way
  Decatur, GA 30030
  Phone: (404) 294-3857