Accidents involving large 18-wheelers can cause major damage and have severe, and sometimes fatal consequences, for drivers of smaller trucks and cars. Our 18-wheeler accident attorneys at Kenneth S. Nugent, P.C. understand how devastating these accidents can be. Victims may be forced to undergo many weeks or months of painful and expensive medical care, suffer lost wages due to missed time at work, sustain significant damage to their vehicles, and much more.
That is why our Augusta Truck Accident law firm is fully committed to helping trucking accident victims receive fair and full compensation for the damages they have suffered as a result of their accident. If you have been in an 18-wheeler crash, you need an accident attorney who will stand by your side and ensure that the at-fault party is held accountable and you receive fair compensation. Contact Kenneth S. Nugent, P.C. today for your FREE case evaluation.
What to do following an 18-wheeler accident in Augusta, GA
If possible, move your vehicle off the road and check for any injuries. If you are unable to move your car, turn on your hazards.
Contact 911 if you or any other individuals show signs of injuries.
Call the police to inform them of the accident. A police report is essential for your personal injury claim.
Exchange insurance information and your name with the truck driver but do not make any other statements that can be used against you later and do not sign anything until your attorney has reviewed the document.
Gather any information at the accident scene, including names and contact information of witnesses, and photograph the accident scene, damage to your vehicle, and your injuries.
Seek medical attention. Not all injuries are immediately apparent, so no matter what the extent of your injuries are, it is always very important to seek medical attention and have your injuries and treatment documented by a doctor.
Contact a qualified Augusta 18-wheeler accident lawyer at Kenneth S. Nugent, P.C.
Common Causes of 18-Wheeler Accidents in Augusta, Georgia
Accidents involving tractor-trailer commercial trucks can occur for many different reasons. It may be due to weather or road conditions, human errors, faulty equipment, and more. The National Traffic Safety Administration reports the following as common causes of trucking accidents:
- Failing to obey traffic signs
- Truck and tire issues, including tire blowouts
- Failure to adhere to cargo limits or unsecured cargo
- Inclement weather, including ice or heavy rain
- Items and debris on the roadway
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Using a cell phone, including texts or calls
- Drive inattention or fatigue
- Following cars too closely
- Failing to check for blind spots
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Distracted driving, including daydreaming or eating
Factors That Make 18-Wheeler Accidents Different And More Challenging Than Passenger Vehicle Accidents
Victims of big truck accidents are eligible to receive the same forms of compensation that victims that any vehicle accident due. However, there are additional challenges and issues when a large commercial vehicle such as an 18-wheeler truck is involved. They include the following:
Increased Potential For Severe Injuries: Commercial trucks are larger and heavier than regular passenger vehicles. They are also more difficult to handle and maneuver compared to standard pickup trucks and cars, which makes it much more likely that crashes involving an 18-wheeler will cause severe injuries or even fatalities. When accident victims suffer severe injuries it can require long-term and serious treatment, along with longer recovery times, and potential life-long disabilities or impairment. This increases the need for fair and full compensation for accident victims.
Involvement of corporations: Commerical vehicles frequently are owned and operated by large, powerful corporations and their insurance companies that are focused on profits instead of the needs of people, including those who are harmed by their trucks and drivers. They often devote significant resources to fighting wrongful death and personal injury claims hoping to minimize the amounts they pay to accident victims as much as possible. In order to level the playing field when powerful trucking companies and insurers are involved, it is essential to work with an experienced attorney at an established law firm like Kenneth S. Nugent, P.C. to successfully navigate the complex legal issues that are involved, and fight against the powerful interests working against you to ensure you receive the compensation that you need and deserve.
Government Regulations: Since large commercial vehicles pose serious risks to public safety, there are many regulations that they are subject to, including regulations that limit the number of hours that commercial drivers can drive, vehicle maintenance regulations, cargo securement and loading, driver training regulations, and much more. When pursuing a lawsuit that involves a commercial vehicle crash, accident victims should work with an accident attorney who has extensive experience with all of the regulations that might apply and that has the necessary resources for conducting investigations to determine whether they were any failures or violations of regulations that led to a preventable accident.
Potential causes: There are many different factors that can cause an 18-wheeler accident beyond traffic violations and driver error. Depending on the applicable regulations and type of truck involved, these kinds of accidents can be caused by commercial company negligence for failing to properly train and hire qualified commercial drivers, regulatory violations, negligent maintenance of trucks, and much more. All potential causes of an 18-wheeler accident must be fully explored. Your lawyer needs to know what to look for in order to establish liability and fault.
Liability: Apart from the numerous potential causes of an 18-wheeler accident, the fact that multiple people and entities may be involved also makes it difficult to establish liability in these cases. Cargo shipping and other commercial operations frequently involve several different companies that are responsible for various aspects of transportation and transactions, including specialized vehicle and auto parts manufacturers, vehicle maintenance companies, distributors, shippers, and more. Whenever there are multiple parties involved, it is necessary to conduct thorough investigations to determine both the underlying cause of an accident and which party or parties failed to follow safety regulations or take the necessary steps to ensure public safety.
Both federal and Georgia state laws heavily regulate the trucking industry. As can be seen, by the factors noted above, this results in crashes involving commercial trucks often be much more complex compared to crashes involving passenger vehicles. Due to the complex legal issues and severity of injuries and damages that are involved, it is critical to have experienced and skilled legal representation. An Augusta Georgia 18-wheeler accident lawyer at Kenneth S. Nugent, P.C. can help determine the best course of action for you to take to seek compensation for the damages and losses you have suffered as a result of a trucking accident.
Potential Injuries Caused by a Tractor-Trailer Accident in Augusta, Georgia
Commercial trucks can be very dangerous due to their weight, size, and the loads that they carry. Whether a driver loses control of his truck or acts in a careless and negligent way, a crash involving an 18-wheeler truck can cause major damage to drivers and also their vehicles. A collision with a truck can leave drivers of smaller trucks and cars severely injured or even dead.
Some of the potential injuries that a semi trucking accident can cause include the following:
- Fractured or broken bones
- Neck and spinal cord injuries
- Brain injuries
- Burns, scrapes, and bruises
- Serious nerve damage
- Internal organ damage
- Quadriplegia
- Paraplegia
- And many more
Seeking Compensation Following an 18-Wheeler Accident
If you were involved in an 18-wheeler truck accident and have suffered injuries and other damages, you might be eligible to receive compensation. Following a crash with an 18-wheeler, you may seek damages for your medical expenses, lost wages, physical and mental pain, and also funeral expenses for a lost loved one. So give our Augusta Semi Truck Accident Law Firm a call today!
You may be able to receive compensation for the following types of damages:
Economic damages: These types of damages compensate an injured person for the financial losses they have sustained or will sustain in the future as a result of an 18-wheeler accident, including lost wages and medical bills.
Non-economic damages: These types of damages compensate an injured person for the losses and damages that they have sustained due to an accident, including physical pain and mental anguish.
Punitive damages: In certain truck accident cases, Georgia state law does allow for punitive damages, such as when a driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In some cases, damages have been allowed where drivers falsified their driving logs or failed to log their service hours.
The statute of limitations in the state of Georgia is two years for filing a lawsuit in order to seek damages in personal injury cases. Typically the two-year deadline starts on the date that the accident occurred that caused the victim’s injuries. That is why it is critical to contact an 18-wheeler accident attorney in August, Georgia at Kenneth S. Nugent, P.C. as soon as possible so that we can evaluate your case, discuss your options, and move forward on your case as soon as possible to ensure that you receive the compensation that you need and deserve.
Contact our Augusta Georgia 18-wheeler accident attorneys at Kenneth S. Nugent, P.C.
Due to how complex trucking accidents are, the severity of the injuries and damages that are involved, the multiple potentially liable parties that may be involved, and the powerful trucking insurance company working against your best interests, it is critical to contact an experienced and skilled 18-wheel accident attorney as soon as possible. Contact the Kenneth S. Nugent, P.C. law firm today to ensure that your rights as an accident victim are protected to receive the fair and just compensation that you need and deserve.
Our skilled and experienced 18-wheeler accident lawyers will conduct a free case evaluation and discuss the details of your case as well as your options If you decide to move forward with a claim, our lawyer will investigate maintenance records, truck equipment, police reports, safety records, driver’s logs, and reconstruct the trucking accident scene. Our experienced legal team will examine all aspects of your accident to ensure that you receive fair and full compensation for the damages you have suffered in your Augusta Georgia 18-wheeler accident.
This type of accident can also significantly reduce the value of your vehicle, even after it has been repaired. This type of damage is referred to as “diminished value” and we will help you recover those funds as well.
With all of the complexity and serious issues involved in an 18-wheeler trucking accident, never settle with an insurance company or for substandard legal help. Contact the Kenneth S. Nugent, P.C. law firm today by calling us at 1-888-579-1790 or by chatting with Amelia to ensure that you receive all that you are entitled to so that you can focus on your recovery and move forward with your life.
Augusta Kenneth S. Nugent, P.C.
1 10th St #550, Augusta, GA 30901
(706) 724-1756
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