Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
It’s hardly the stuff tourist attractions are made of; Georgia ranks among the top five states for fatal truck accidents.
Despite the fact that the trucking industry is striving to make the roads a safer place for other motorists, Georgia has always managed to maintain the dubious distinction of ranking among the top five states across the U.S. for trucking fatalities. The unfortunate part is that, even though there are rules and regulations, they do not seem to be enough. The rules and regulations must be followed. Often they are honored more in the breach than in the execution, and the ones who pay for that are the innocent victims who end up severely injured or dead.
Rather than decreasing in Georgia, fatalities have consistently increased every year since 2002, according to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). With this disturbing trend of fatal big rig accidents on the rise, it is no surprise that they affect a large number of lives, and not just in Georgia but in every state.
If you have been involved in this kind of accident, don’t wait too long before you contact a competent Atlanta personal injury lawyer. If you want justice and funds to pay your medical bills, this is the only way you will accomplish that, because the insurance company will not go out of its way to help you. The trucking company has no vested interest in owning up to liability. The trucking firm’s insurance company has no vested interest in paying out a high claim amount either. Therefore, they work hard to diminish or deny claims.
Not all accidents involving an 18-wheeler end in a fatality. In fact, there are approximately another 5,200 accidents every year that are non-fatal but instead result in serious life-altering injuries. These devastating accidents are, by and large, preventable, which makes them seem even more senseless. Driver error, improperly maintained vehicles, reckless driving, texting while driving, using an e-device while driving, falling asleep at the wheel… these are all causes of preventable accidents.
Interestingly enough, most of the big rig accidents happen in rural parts of the state, as opposed to urban areas. However, no matter where the behemoths go, accidents do follow. The only real protection is to be alert at all times and drive defensively. It doesn’t hurt to give those big trucks a wide berth on the highway. It could mean the difference between life and death.
If you have been involved in an 18-wheeler accident, do not wait until you are approached by the trucking firm’s insurance company and/or lawyers. Call an experienced Atlanta personal injury lawyer as soon as you can, or have a family member do it for you. You can’t afford to delay in getting legal representation, not if you want justice and the ability to claim compensation for your injuries.
Tim Anderson writes for Atlanta Personal Injury attorney, Stephen M. Ozcomert. The firm specializes in personal injury, malpractice, motorcycle accidents, and wrongful death. To learn more about Atlanta personal injury lawyer, Stephen M. Ozcomert, visit Ozcomert.com.