When an 18-wheeler slams into your car, the impact can leave every part of your life in ruins. The medical bills pile up, but because you can’t work while you heal, you can’t pay them. Meanwhile, the trucking company’s insurance company is already working against you and refusing to pay the money you deserve. You need someone to protect your rights. You need Dr. Ted Injury Law.
Why trust us with your truck accident lawsuit? Because with us, you have an advantage: an Augusta, GA truck accident lawyer who understands injuries from a medical perspective. Our founder, Dr. Ted A. Greve, is a licensed chiropractor whose sole focus is injury law. This gives him first-hand insight into how your injuries can affect your future and what you need to get your life back to where it was. He and our team have more than 100 years of combined experience taking on trucking companies — and winning.
After a truck driver’s carelessness caused you unthinkable injuries, it’s time to fight back. Call the Lawyer Who’s Also a Doctor today for a free, no-obligation case review. Our law firm charges nothing to begin working on your truck accident claim, and there are no fees unless we win your case.
Why You Should Hire an Augusta, GA Attorney for Your Truck Accident Claim
Trucking companies start protecting themselves the moment one of their drivers causes an accident. They send investigators to the scene, take witness statements that favor them, and begin building their defense before you even leave the hospital. Without an Augusta, GA truck accident attorney by your side protecting your interests, you risk missing out on the compensation you deserve.
Dr. Ted and our experienced attorneys have what it takes to level the playing field. We know trucking companies will try to bury you in paperwork, use federal regulations to confuse the issues, and make lowball offers when you’re desperate for money. Our truck accident law firm won’t let them get away with these tactics.
What sets Dr. Ted Injury Law apart is our founder’s medical training. Although Dr. Ted only practices law now, his medical background means he understands precisely how a truck accident injury affects your body. He knows which injuries get worse over time, what treatments you’ll need years from now, and how your injuries might prevent you from returning to work. This medical knowledge helps us fight for compensation that covers your current and future needs, not just what appears on today’s medical bills.
Contact our law firm today to speak with a truck accident attorney in Augusta, GA. Your case review is free and fully confidential.
What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?
The steps you take after a commercial truck hits you can make or break your truck accident case. Your safety comes first, but protecting your legal rights matters, too.
Call 911 immediately and get medical treatment, even if you think you’re not badly hurt. Adrenaline can mask serious injuries for hours or even days after the crash. Some injuries, like internal bleeding or brain trauma, might not show symptoms right away but can be life-threatening if left untreated.
While waiting for help, gather as much information as possible if you can move around safely. Take photos of the truck from all angles, including the license plate, company name, and any identifying numbers on the cab and trailer. Get pictures of your vehicle’s damage, skid marks on the road, and the overall accident scene. You should also ask witnesses for their names and phone numbers.
Here’s what not to do: never tell anyone the accident was your fault, even partially. Don’t say you’re sorry or that you’re OK. The trucking company’s lawyers will use any statement against you to avoid paying compensation. Just give the police the facts about what happened and let the investigation determine who’s at fault. Before talking to any insurance company, call us at Dr. Ted Injury Law for guidance and to protect your rights.
Why Are Trucking Accidents More Complicated Than Other Motor Vehicle Collisions?
Semi-truck accidents are more complex than regular car crashes. These massive vehicles can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. That’s like having 20 regular cars stacked together. When something that heavy hits your vehicle, the physics alone make everything more complicated.
Federal regulations add another level of difficulty. Truck drivers must follow strict rules about the following:
- Hours of Service – Drivers can only drive for certain amounts of time before taking mandatory rest breaks, and violations often prove the driver was likely too tired to drive safely.
- Weight Limits – Overloaded trucks take longer to stop and are more likely to tip over or jackknife (when the truck’s trailer swings out to the side) during emergency maneuvers.
- Maintenance Requirements – Trucking companies must inspect and maintain their vehicles regularly. Missing or falsifying these inspections shows negligence.
- Drug and Alcohol Testing – Commercial drivers face stricter standards than regular drivers and must submit to regular testing.
Multiple insurance policies often cover different parts of the trucking operation. The truck, trailer, and cargo might each have separate insurance companies, and they’ll all point fingers at each other to avoid paying the money you deserve. You need lawyers who understand this web of coverage and know how to get maximum compensation from all available sources.
Who Could Be Liable for a Trucking Accident?
Your truck accident claim might involve several defendants (the people you’re suing). As part of our investigation, our lawyers can identify everyone who shares responsibility for your injuries. They may include the following:
- The truck driver bears responsibility when they break traffic laws, drive while exhausted, use their phone on the road, or operate the truck recklessly.
- Trucking companies can be liable for pushing drivers to violate safety rules, failing to properly maintain their fleet, or hiring drivers with bad records. They’re also responsible for their drivers’ actions under a legal principle that makes employers liable for their employees’ conduct.
- Loading companies face liability when they pack cargo incorrectly. Improperly secured loads can shift during transport, overbalance the trailer, and cause the driver to lose control.
- Maintenance companies that perform shoddy repairs or skip necessary safety checks share blame when their negligence leads to accidents.
- Parts manufacturers might be responsible if defective brakes, tires, or other components cause a crash.
What Compensation Could You Recover in a Truck Accident Claim?
Truck accident compensation should cover every way the crash has harmed you, both now and in the future. Our attorneys can fight for full payment for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity (inability to earn the same money you did before the accident)
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment in activities you used to love
If the crash killed your loved one in a fatal truck accident, we can pursue wrongful death damages (another word for compensation). These include funeral costs, lost financial support, and compensation for this heartbreaking loss.
What Happens if You’re Partly to Blame for a Trucking Accident?
Georgia follows what’s called a “modified comparative fault” rule that can affect your compensation. If you’re less than 50 percent responsible for the accident, you can still recover money for the accident, but your compensation gets reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if your damages total $100,000 but you’re found to be 30 percent at fault, you’d receive $70,000, which is 30 percent less than the original total.
Insurance companies are aware of this rule and will work hard to shift the blame onto you. They might claim you were speeding, following too closely to the truck, or driving distracted, such as texting behind the wheel. Our attorneys know how to fight these tactics and minimize any fault assigned to you. We can gather evidence proving the truck driver’s actions were the main cause of the crash.
How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Georgia?
Georgia law gives you two years from the date of the crash to file a truck accident lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you lose your right to compensation forever, no matter how strong your case might be.
Two years might seem like plenty of time, but building a strong case against a trucking company takes months of investigation and preparation. Evidence disappears quickly in truck accident cases. Companies only have to keep certain records for set periods, and they’ll destroy anything they can legally get rid of if it might hurt their defense.
The sooner you call Dr. Ted Injury Law, the stronger we can make your case. Reach out to us today for your free, no-obligation case evaluation.
What Is Considered a Truck in Georgia?
Georgia law defines various commercial vehicles as trucks based on their weight and use. Any vehicle used for business purposes that weighs over 10,000 pounds qualifies as a commercial truck. This includes delivery vans (such as Amazon, FedEx, and UPS), box trucks, dump trucks, concrete mixers, garbage trucks, and, of course, big rig tractor-trailers.
Different types of trucks require different classes of commercial driver’s licenses. Drivers need special endorsements to haul hazardous materials, pull double- or triple-trailers, or transport passengers. When drivers operate without proper licensing, it strengthens your injury claim by showing they weren’t qualified to drive that vehicle.
Common Types of Commercial, Big Rig, and Semi-Truck Accidents
The following different types of truck crashes cause different injury patterns and require different legal strategies:
- Jackknife Accidents – The trailer swings out beside the cab like a folding knife, often blocking multiple lanes and causing pile-ups.
- Underride Crashes – Smaller vehicles slide under the truck’s trailer, often shearing off the car’s roof and causing severe, life-altering injuries.
- Rollover Accidents – Trucks tip over due to speeding around curves, unbalanced loads, or sudden steering movements.
- Blind Spot Collisions – Trucks have huge blind spots where drivers can’t see other vehicles, which can lead to crashes during lane changes.
- Rear-End Crashes – When a heavy truck hits you from behind, the massive force can cause severe neck, back, and brain injuries.
What Injuries Can Someone Sustain in a Truck Accident?
The enormous size and weight of commercial trucks mean victims often suffer life-changing injuries, including the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Multiple broken bones
- Severe burns
- Internal organ damage and internal bleeding
- PTSD and other psychological harm
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer in Augusta, GA Today
Don’t let the trucking company’s insurance adjusters take advantage of you. At Dr. Ted Injury Law, we’re ready to take on the biggest trucking companies and their insurance giants. Our team combines medical knowledge with legal firepower to get you maximum compensation.
Call the Lawyer Who’s Also a Doctor to learn how we can maximize your recovery. You’ll get a free, no-obligation consultation with a truck accident lawyer in Augusta, GA, who can review your case and discuss your legal options.
Don’t be misled — call Dr. Ted!
