Answers To Common Questions About Georgia Trucking Accidents
Few accident scenarios are as scary or as dangerous as being hit by a truck. After a trucking accident, you may be struggling to recover physically while also worrying about how you’ll pay your expensive medical bills. You likely have many questions about your legal options and the process of filing a personal injury lawsuit.
On this page, you can read answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about truck wrecks and related litigation. For answers to any additional questions you may have, you can contact Jon Hawk Law Firm, LLC, to arrange a free initial consultation.
Why are trucking accidents so common in Georgia?
Trucking accidents are surprisingly common throughout much of the United States. While these crashes have numerous causes, fault can often be traced back to the truck driver, trucking company or both. Common causes of truck wrecks include:
- Truck drivers speeding or driving too fast for conditions
- Truck driver fatigue/drowsiness
- Failure to adapt to changes in traffic and weather conditions
- Vehicle problems like balding tires and worn-out brakes
- Trucking company negligence in hiring, training and monitoring drivers
- Cargo loads that are unbalanced, too heavy or improperly secured
Your personal injury claim will start with a thorough investigation into the crash to determine what caused it and who was at fault.
How much is my truck accident case worth?
Unfortunately, there is no uniform answer to the financial value of a personal injury case. Your compensation amount would be based on a variety of factors, including the extent of your injuries and whether you are disabled due to the accident, and how the accident impacts your ability to work and more factors.
What damages can I claim compensation for?
An experienced attorney will know how to accurately assess damages and help you seek maximum compensation for things like:
- Medical bills (current and future)
- Lost wages and/or reduced earning capacity
- Permanent disability and the costs of adapting to it
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Property damage/loss
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Attorney Jon Hawk has more than 25 years of legal experience in personal injury law. He and his team have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of injury victims in Georgia.
Why do I need an attorney if the insurance company offered me a settlement?
More often than not, truck wrecks result in catastrophic injury or death for occupants of the smaller vehicle. If you suffered catastrophic injuries and did not receive adequate compensation, your medical bills alone could bankrupt you.
The insurance company wants to resolve your case as quickly and cheaply as possible. If they offer you a settlement, it will likely be for a fraction of what you need and deserve. You could try negotiating a higher settlement on your own, but it would be you against a team of insurance company lawyers.
Does it matter which lawyer I hire?
Should you reject the settlement offer, the insurance company will be ready to defend itself in litigation. Trucking companies typically have high-value commercial policies, which means that insurers have a financial incentive to aggressively contest liability. You need a lawyer fighting just as hard for your interests.
Jon spent the first four years of his career representing insurance companies. He understands how they operate and can anticipate the arguments they will make. He utilizes that insider’s knowledge to strengthen your case and to secure a much higher settlement or jury award.
How can I afford an attorney when I have steep medical bills and cannot work?
The good news is that hiring a personal injury attorney is far more affordable than you might have assumed. Most firms, including Jon Hawk Law Firm, LLC, take personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you only pay legal fees if the firm helps you recover compensation. If there is no recovery, there is no fee.*
The attorney’s fees are taken as a pre-determined percentage of your total recovery. You never need to worry about legal bills that match or exceed your compensation. In short, hiring a personal injury lawyer is affordable and low-risk.
Get Answers To Your Questions During A Free Consultation
With an office in Macon, Georgia, Hawk Law Firm serves clients throughout the greater Macon and Atlanta metro areas. To take advantage of a free initial consultation about your case, call 478-845-6244 or submit an online contact form.
*Contingent attorneys’ fees refer only to those fees charged by attorneys for their legal services. Such fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client. ‘No fee unless you win’ or similar language refers only to fees charged by the attorney. Such contingent fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client.