Commercial trucks can weigh tens of thousands of pounds even without any cargo on board, and when they are fully loaded, they are by far the heaviest things on just about every road they travel down. Unfortunately, this means that these vehicles tend to be especially harmful—even deadly—when they collide with smaller commuter cars.
Pursuing fair financial recovery after this type of crash could be much easier and likelier to succeed if you work with a seasoned Gwinnett County truck accident lawyer. In addition to helping you identify and seek restitution from everyone who bears fault for your accident, your dedicated personal injury attorney could also provide crucial help with building the strongest claim possible within time limits prescribed by state law.
Who Could Be Liable for a Truck Wreck?
In many respects, lawsuits and settlement demands built around commercial truck crashes work just like those built around any other type of auto accident. Every driver on every public road owes a “duty” to everyone around them to obey the law and react reasonably to hazards they encounter while driving, so if a truck driver directly causes a wreck by speeding, not checking blind spots, driving drunk or high, or doing anything else careless or reckless, they could be held at fault for ensuing injuries and losses based on their negligent behavior.
Importantly, though, truck drivers are not the only parties who could bear liability for a truck accident. Even if a trucker was completely to blame for causing the crash, their employer could still be vicariously liable for their employee’s negligence—or directly liable for negligence of their own, if, for example, they have poor hiring practices or deliberately force drivers to break federal trucking laws to save money.
Alternatively, truck accidents are sometimes the result of negligence from someone who is only indirectly involved, like a mechanic who provided subpar service to a truck or a manufacturer that produced faulty components. Sometimes fault may even lie with another driver on the road who forced a trucker into an unavoidable wreck, as a Gwinnett County truck accident attorney could further explain.
Filing Deadlines for Truck Accident Claims
No matter who specifically bears blame for a truck crash or the severity of the damages, injured parties have strict time limits for when they can file suit afterwards. Under Official Code of Georgia §9-3-33, most prospective personal injury plaintiffs have two years at most after sustaining injury to begin the litigation process.
This deadline applies even in situations where a plaintiff’s injuries will have lifelong repercussions and/or cause harm that will not fully manifest for years to come. Because of this, it can be vital to have help from a knowledgeable truck accident lawyer in Gwinnett County with estimating the value of future damages and incorporating them into a settlement demand or lawsuit.
A Gwinnett County Truck Accident Attorney Could Help
Given the weight and size of their vehicles, it is particularly important for truck drivers to always act responsibly while operating around other people and cars. Any failure to do so that directly results in a wreck could be grounds for civil litigation, through which you could potentially recover for various economic and non-economic losses.
If you or a loved one were seriously injured in a commercial vehicle wreck, it is important to understand that you have legal options. Guidance from a Gwinnett County truck accident lawyer could make all the difference in your case. Call the Gunn Law Group today to learn more.