Atlanta is a major city and commerce hub, and every day thousands of truckers pass through on Atlanta’s freeways, highways, and city streets. Unfortunately, Atlanta has a reputation of having roads which can be dangerous for truck drivers. Drivers spend long days and weeks on the roads, which can increase the potential that they will experience fatigue and distractions. Tight deadlines when combined with fatigue leads to an increased risk of catastrophic accidents for truck drivers.
Many truck accidents have catastrophic results. The injured trucker may be unable to work for a significant amount of time. Some of the common injuries that can occur in commercial trucking accidents include back and neck injuries, brain injuries, amputations, spinal cord injuries, internal bleeding, and even death. Many of these injuries are life-long and will cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical treatment.
If you are a truck driver and you are involved in a serious accident, you are entitled to compensation. In most cases, commercial truck drivers are covered by workers’ compensation, even if they are at fault for the accident. Workers’ compensation pays for ongoing medical care, disability benefits, and vocational training if the trucker is unable to return to his or her job after the accident. Truck drivers may also be entitled to receive Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits if they are severely injured and unable to work. These are received through the Social Security Administration.
If the truck accident was caused by the negligent actions of a third party, such as another driver, the injured trucker can also file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party. The lawsuit can ask for that individual to be required to pay any damages not already covered by workers’ compensation. This could include compensation for pain and suffering, lost income, and more. Also, if a truck driver was killed in a crash, the family of the trucker may be entitled to separately pursue benefits under workers’ compensation or a lawsuit against the responsible party.
It’s critical that you hire an attorney if you are a trucker and have been injured in a crash. Your employer, as well as the insurance company for any other drivers involved in the accident have attorneys on their side to help them avoid responsibility for the accident. It’s important that you have an advocate on your side as well. An attorney can help you investigate the accident, gather evidence, put together a strong case to present to the insurance company, enter into settlement negotiations, and take the case to trial.
If you have been injured in a trucking accident in Atlanta, call the Atlanta personal injury attorneys at Holston & Huntley. We will provide you with a free consultation on your case, and if we choose to take your case you pay us nothing unless we obtain a recovery for you. Call us today at (404) 620-3337 consultations are free and you are under no obligation to use our services. We serve Metro Atlanta Georgia as well as Birmingham Alabama including surrounding areas.
