What Trucking Companies Do Not Want You To Know After An Atlanta Accident
Within minutes of a truck accident in Atlanta, the trucking company takes action to protect itself. Insurance adjusters, legal representatives, and investigators move fast and count on injured victims not knowing their rights or the steps they need to take to protect themselves in a claim.
Understanding what happens behind the scenes can help you get the total amount you need to recover. Our experienced Atlanta truck accident lawyers explain common truck company tactics and the types of compensation you may be entitled to.
What Trucking Companies Do Immediately After an Atlanta Crash
Trucking companies treat a serious crash as a liability event from the moment it happens. Their goal is damage control, and they have experienced teams in place to handle the matter.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires trucking companies to retain records, including driver logs, inspection reports, and vehicle maintenance history. However, they are only required to keep many of these records for six months, and critical evidence can disappear quickly after a crash if you don’t take legal action to prevent it.
Things trucking companies do not want injured victims to know include:
- Encourage insurers to offer immediate settlements before you fully understand the severity and impact of your injuries.
- Quickly overwrite black box and electronic logging data, destroying vital evidence in your truck accident claim.
- Claims adjusters push victims to make immediate recorded statements, which they use to minimize or deny your claim.
- Under Georgia’s modified comparative negligence rule, insurers may also attempt to assign partial fault to you to reduce what they owe.
The sooner you get legal guidance, the more protected you’ll be.
Your Rights in an Atlanta Truck Accident Claim
Trucking companies carry large liability insurance policies for a reason. Even relatively minor truck accidents in Atlanta can cause devastating injuries to other motorists involved. Under the Georgia Code, you have the right to hold them liable for the full scope of your losses, which includes:
- Your current and future medical care.
- Lost income and reduced future earnings if your injuries cause long-term disabilities.
- Pain and suffering damages that reflect the physical and emotional toll of the crash.
- Property damage and other costs.
The FMCSA requires most interstate commercial carriers to maintain at least $750,000 in liability coverage, with many carriers holding policies of $1 million or more. Despite these policy limits, insurers consistently work to settle claims for far less than their actual value.
Contact Our Experienced Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer Today To Make the Maximum Recovery
When an Atlanta truck accident occurs, trucking companies have teams of insurers and legal professionals working on their side to protect them against liability. At Shiver Hamilton Campbell, we act as a strong ally, negotiate on your behalf, and provide the trusted representation you need to make the maximum recovery.
Contact our Atlanta truck accident lawyer today to request a consultation. We represent clients throughout Gwinnett, DeKalb, and Fulton Counties, including Decatur, Jonesboro, Marietta, Sandy Springs, and coastal areas such as Savannah and St. Simons Island.
Sources:
fmcsa.dot.gov/hours-service/elds/how-long-must-motor-carrier-retain-electronic-logging-device-eld-record-duty
fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/insurance-filing-requirements
