Savannah Truck Accident Lawyer

Even without any cargo on board, the average tractor-trailer is still significantly larger and heavier than every commuter car around them. With a full load of cargo, semi-trucks can legally weigh up to 80,000 pounds while traveling on public roads—enough, in other words, to cause catastrophic harm to any person inside a vehicle that truck collides with.

While money alone cannot always make up for the physical, financial, and psychological loss this sort of accident can cause, pursuing fair civil restitution with a skilled personal injury attorney’s help is key to protecting your long-term best interests. If you need help getting paid what you deserve from the truck driver and trucking company that caused you harm, you should make contacting a Savannah truck accident lawyer one of your top priorities.

What to Do Immediately After a Crash With a Commercial Truck

The first priority for anyone involved in a motor vehicle collision of any kind should be ensuring that everyone involved is safe from further harm. Anyone in need of emergency medical assistance after being hit by a commercial truck driver should prioritize obtaining that care. With that said, anyone who can remain safely at the scene of a truck wreck afterward can often strengthen their civil claim by doing things like:

• Calling 911 and waiting for the police to arrive and take a statement from them before leaving the scene
• Taking photos/videos of the accident scene and of all damage sustained by the vehicles involved
• Getting contact information from eyewitnesses to the crash
• Checking for nearby surveillance/dashboard cameras, which may have recorded the crash as it happened

It is also essential to get professional medical attention as soon as possible after doing all these things to ensure that any injuries that have occurred are properly documented and treated. A Savannah commercial truck accident attorney could discuss other necessary pre-litigation procedures during a free initial consultation.

Who Could Be Liable for a Truck Driver’s Negligence?

Of course, the main person at fault for a truck crash is usually the truck driver who broke a traffic law, drove while drunk, distracted, or fatigued, or otherwise acted irresponsibly behind the wheel. In addition to an individual trucker, though, it is often possible to name the company that employed the trucker as a defendant in an ensuing civil claim. This is because the legal doctrine of respondeat superior generally allows employers to be held vicariously liable for negligence by one of their employees.

Another thing worth noting is that truck wrecks can stem partially or primarily from mechanical issues within the truck, which can sometimes be traced back to negligence by a third party, such as a mechanic or even the company that manufactured the truck in the first place. Support from a knowledgeable truck injury lawyer in Savannah is key to identifying everyone who played a role in causing an accident and ensuring they are held accountable for the consequences of their actions.

Trust in a Savannah Truck Accident Attorney

Nobody deserves to get hurt while driving solely because of another person’s misconduct. Nevertheless, truck wrecks happen every day across the state of Georgia. If you try to demand civil restitution for truck wreck injuries on your own, you are unlikely to get anywhere near the amount of money you should be owed for your damages.

Working closely with a capable Savannah truck accident lawyer is essential to getting the best possible case outcome after a commercial vehicle wreck. Call today to learn how The Law Office of Joseph J. Steffen Jr. can assist you with your claim.