Some of the most common causes of truck accidents in Decatur include driver error, poor road conditions, inclement weather, and equipment failure. Large truck collisions tend to cause more severe injuries and fatalities than standard car crashes.
Understanding the cause of your truck accident plays a critical role in recovering compensation for your medical bills and other injury-related expenses. Yet, learning the cause of your truck crash can get complicated––especially if the other party blames you for what happened.
Here, you could benefit from partnering with a Decatur truck accident lawyer. Our team can learn the cause of your collision and hold the liable party accountable.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Decatur
The U.S. General Services Administration notes that 98 percent of collisions result from human error. These factors include:
- Misjudged clearance. We have all seen news stories about tractor-trailer drivers who try to drive under an overpass that does not have enough clearance for their cab or trailer. Nearby vehicles can get caught up in the collision.
- Backing up improperly. The back of the commercial truck could collide with other vehicles or fixed objects if the trucker misjudges the distance while in reverse.
- Improper lane changes. All truckers should check to make sure that their path is clear before changing lanes. Tractor-trailers have massive blind spots, which could cause them to collide with other vehicles if they change lanes improperly.
- Driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or fatigue. If a driver is fatigued or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, their impairment could prevent them from driving safely.
- The trucker lost control. Speeding, tailgating, and distractions are common reasons that a driver will lose control of a vehicle. Also, improperly loaded cargo can shift during transit, causing the big rig to fishtail or flip over.
- Failure to yield. Whether changing lanes, merging onto a highway, or proceeding through an intersection, failing to yield the right of way is a common cause of large truck crashes.
There are many other examples of unsafe driver behavior that can cause collisions with tractor-trailers.
For a free legal consultation, call (404) 888-8888
Not All Truck Accidents in Decatur Arise from Driver Error
Sometimes, driver error does not cause a large truck accident. Instead, other factors come into play. Some include:
- Unsafe road conditions. The road’s surface could be a contributing factor to a large truck accident if there is standing water on the street, ice, or a slick spill.
- Weather. Severe weather events could impact a driver’s visibility if they try to drive through a blizzard, hurricane, tornado, or another weather event.
- Equipment failure. If the tractor-trailer has a tire blow-out, brake failure, or loss of steering, the driver might have a single-vehicle or multiple-vehicle accident.
If one of these factors led to your trucking accident, you may have concerns about who you can hold financially accountable. This is where you may consider hiring a personal injury lawyer from our team. We can investigate the circumstances of your accident and learn who caused it. Then, we can gather evidence to hold them accountable for your economic and non-economic damages.
You Deserve Compensation Following a Truck Accident in Decatur
If you suffered injuries in a Decatur truck accident that was someone else’s fault, you could pursue the at-fault party for compensation. Recoverable damages in your case may include:
- Lost wages. This type of recovery is for income you missed while recuperating from your injuries and undergoing medical treatments.
- Diminished future earning capacity. Your injuries may prevent you from working your usual hours or at all. Our team accounts for the harm to your earning power in your truck accident claim’s value.
- Property damages. This accounts for the cost of replacing or repairing your damaged vehicle.
- Medical expenses. You don’t just deserve financial compensation for the medical bills you’re incurring right now; you deserve financial recovery for your anticipated healthcare expenses, including medications and anticipated surgeries.
- Pain and suffering. Compensation for pain and suffering accounts for the physical discomfort and emotional distress of the accident and your injuries.
- Other non-economic damages. In addition to pain and suffering, you can also seek a fair settlement that accounts for loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment of life, and scarring.
This is not an exhaustive list. Depending on your circumstances, you could recover other losses not listed here.
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Our Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You Avoid These Case-Related Pitfalls
Even after learning the cause of your truck accident, recovering compensation isn’t as straightforward as you would think. There are many hidden pitfalls that could derail your case and ultimately prevent you from securing financial recovery. When you hire an attorney from Bader Law Injury Lawyers, we make sure that you don’t:
Miss the Statute of Limitations
If you wait too long to file a truck accident lawsuit, Georgia law could forever bar you from holding the defendant financially accountable. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, the statute of limitations is only two years. Our team acts quickly to protect your legal rights and adhere to case-specific deadlines.
Give a Recorded Statement
The insurance company’s claims adjuster might ask you to give them a recorded statement under the guise of telling your side of the story. In reality, a recorded statement does not benefit you.
Instead, the transcript gives the adjuster evidence that they can “cherry-pick” and use against you. Your words could get taken out of context and twisted into something you did not intend.
Assume that the Insurance Adjuster’s Offer Is Fair
The claims adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you. Their job is to save the insurance company as much money as possible. They do this by denying claims, blaming injured people for accidents, and paying injured people less money than they deserve. We assess all settlement offers and explain which ones meet your needs.
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Begin Your Free Case Review With Our Truck Accident Law Firm Now
You do not have to go through this experience by yourself. When a personal injury attorney from Bader Law Injury Lawyers handles your legal matters, we do the heavy lifting while you get the rest you need. Call now to start your free case review. We’re ready to investigate your accident’s cause and seek fair compensation.
Call or text (404) 888-8888 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
