The victim of an Atlanta car crash was recently awarded $2,000,000.00 for a spine injury sustained in a horrific motor vehicle accident involving two tractor trailer trucks. A DeKalb County jury issued the verdict after a lengthy trial in which the accident victim testified as to how a lumbar herniated disc injury suffered in the car accident has significantly impacted his life. The victim incurred medical expenses totaling $155,000.00, and the jury awarded an additional $1,845,000.00 for pain and suffering.
Many of our Clients ask about the differences between a car accident and a truck accident in Georgia. While there are distinct differences, the most important difference to an injured plaintiff is the insurance coverage available for injuries sustained in a trucking accident. While car accidents typically involve private individuals who may have insurance coverage as low as $25,000.00, truck accidents involve commercial vehicles that are insured by polices of insurance that are usually a minimum of $1,000,000.00. This means that a person injured in an accident caused by a negligent truck driver will usually have the potential for a greater financial recovery.
In addition to the higher level of insurance coverage available in tractor trailer accidents, there are also legal differences between motor vehicle accidents and truck accidents. Truck drivers may be held to higher standards of care depending on the load that is being hauled, and there are limitations on the time that a driver of a tractor trailer may operate the vehicle each day. There are also limitations as to the roadways that a truck may drive on.
Technology plays a vital role in pursuing a law suit against a trucking company. Modern trucks are outfitted with computers and navigational systems that record and verify how fast a tractor trailer was moving prior to an accident, when the truck driver was warned about an imminent collision, and how many hours the driver had been operating the vehicle prior to an accident. This information allows Georgia truck accident attorneys to be well prepared upon entering the courtroom.
The Murray Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars for individuals who have been injured, or have suffered a wrongful death, in a car accident or truck accident. The Murray Law Firm is based in Atlanta, and represents Clients throughout Georgia including Savannah, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Dalton, Rome, and Athens.
