The saddest cases that clients bring to our attorneys involve the death of a loved one. It is a tragic fact that death comes in many forms. However, few of the cases we try carry a higher likelihood of fatality than trucking accidents.
If you lost a family member in a truck accident, please call the Law Offices of Humberto Izquierdo, Jr., PC at 770-888-8901 for a complimentary case evaluation. Our attorneys serve clients in Atlanta, Marietta, Cumming, and nearby areas of Georgia.
Deadly Injuries in Semi Truck Crashes
Collisions with 18-wheelers are devastating for the vehicle struck by the truck. Depending on the rate of speed and other factors, catastrophic injuries are practically guaranteed – and may be fatal.
Some examples of catastrophic injuries that may result in death in the wake of a truck accident include:
- Crush injuries: “Crush” is the best term to describe what happens when a truck weighing up to 80,000 pounds collides with a car weighing two tons on average. Drivers and passengers in the car can sustain massive, life-threatening damage to organs, tissues, blood cells, and more.
- Traumatic brain injuries: Open and closed head injuries are both common in trucking crashes. It should come as no surprise that trauma to the brain can result in permanent deficits. Tragically, in some cases, the brain stops functioning altogether as a result of the damage.
- Neck and back injuries: Victims who suffer injury to the back or neck in a vehicle accident generally face long-term problems with mobility and other day-to-day functions. However, the size and weight of semi trucks make it much more likely that victims will suffer potentially fatal injuries such as a broken neck.
- Severe burns: Full-thickness burns can be life-threatening, depending on their location and the parts of the body affected. Even if victims survive the initial burn, they are at a higher likelihood of developing serious infections that can lead to death without active monitoring and vigilant treatment.
- Amputation: The loss of an arm or leg results in long-term disability. Short-term, it is a medical emergency, with a strong likelihood of fatal blood loss if a major artery is severed.
Some truck accident victims are killed instantly in the crash, while others pass away later as a result of complications from their injuries. No matter which of these situations applies to your family, it is a tragedy that you don’t have to suffer alone.
What Should I Do If My Loved One Dies in a Truck Accident?
Your family is focused on grieving, but it will be business as usual for the trucking company and the other parties involved. Representatives for these parties may try to contact you when you and your loved ones are still reeling. They may even offer a settlement for your loss that could seem fair at the time.
BUT: It is in your best interest to speak to an attorney before you talk to the insurance company.
During your free consultation, the Law Offices of Humberto Izquierdo, Jr., PC will fully investigate your claim. The settlement offer you may have received is likely only a fraction of what you and your family may be eligible for should you file suit.
If you hire the Law Offices of Humberto Izquierdo, Jr., PC, our attorneys will file a wrongful death lawsuit on your behalf. You and other members of your family may be eligible for damages such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of expected income and benefits
- Loss of the relationship with your family member
- Medical bills arising from treatment performed prior to death
The most important thing you should do after your family member passes away in a trucking accident is to act sooner rather than later. The statute of limitations on wrongful death and personal injury claims in Georgia is two years from the date of your loved one’s passing. Truck accidents can be complicated, and delay can make the difference between receiving the compensation you and your family deserve and being ineligible for damages under the law.
So don’t delay: Contact the Law Offices of Humberto Izquierdo, Jr., PC by calling 770-888-8901 for a complimentary consultation. Our trucking accident lawyers serve clients in Atlanta, Marietta, and nearby areas of Georgia from our office in Cumming.
