Hurt in a Truck Crash? Start Your Free Case Evaluation

A free truck accident case evaluation is a no-cost, confidential review of your crash, your injuries and your insurance. The first consultation carries no obligation to continue. Here is what the review covers, what to bring, how the process works and which Georgia deadlines may apply.

What a Free Truck Accident Case Evaluation Is and Who It Is For

A free truck accident case evaluation is a first talk with a lawyer about a semi, box truck or 18-wheeler crash. The first consultation is free, confidential and without obligation to continue. En español: consulta inicial gratuita, confidencial y sin compromiso.

It fits people hurt in a truck crash in Georgia. That includes drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and families who lost a loved one. Clayton County and Jonesboro residents can request a review through the firm’s Jonesboro office.

Truck cases differ from car cases. The truck may belong to a company, not the driver. The driver, the company and the insurer may each play a role, so the review looks at all of them. The firm also represents people hurt in car, motorcycle and e-bike crashes, slip and falls, nursing home abuse, medical malpractice, negligent security and wrongful death cases.

What the Evaluation Covers

The review covers five areas: the crash report, the truck and its company, your injuries, insurance and evidence. Each one can shape which claims may apply.

• The crash report. The police or agency report lists the date, place, any citations and a report number.
• The driver and the trucking company. Note the company name and any DOT number on the truck. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-2-2, a business can answer for wrongs its servant (an employee acting for the business) commits within the scope of that business.
• Your injuries. Diagnoses, hospital care, follow-up visits and time away from work all matter. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-2, special damages, meaning losses that actually flow from the wrong, must be proved.
• Insurance. Review the at-fault driver’s policy, the carrier’s liability coverage, and your own auto and health coverage. Under O.C.G.A. § 40-1-112, a motor carrier’s insurer can be joined in the same suit only in limited cases.
• Electronic records. Under 49 C.F.R. § 395.26, a truck’s electronic logging device automatically records items such as date, time, location, engine hours and vehicle miles. These records can help show where the truck was and when.
• Who may be responsible. The driver, the carrier, an employer or another party may share fault. The facts decide which claims may fit.

What to Bring to Your Free Consultation

Bring what you have, even if it’s incomplete. A lawyer can tell you what is missing.

• The crash report number, or any copy of the report you received
• Photos and video of the scene, the vehicles, the truck’s markings and your injuries
• Names and phone numbers of witnesses and other drivers
• Insurance cards, claim numbers and any letter or call from an adjuster
• Medical records, bills, discharge papers and work-restriction notes
• A short timeline: when and where the crash happened, what you remember and time missed from work
• Your questions, written down

One habit helps. Keep a dated note of pain, appointments and missed work. A dated log makes later questions easier to answer.

How the Process Works and What to Expect

The process starts with a call or online form, then moves to a consultation with a lawyer. These are the usual steps.

1. Start. Call or use the online form to start a free case evaluation or schedule a free consultation. The phone line is available 24/7.
2. Intake. You share your details. The team asks for missing records, such as the crash report.
3. Consultation. A lawyer reviews the facts, injuries and insurance, by phone or in person at the Jonesboro office.
4. Options. The lawyer explains possible next steps, such as asking the trucking company to keep its records.
5. Moving forward. If you choose to continue, the firm explains the representation terms in writing before any work begins.

Timing matters in truck cases. Under 49 C.F.R. § 382.303, after certain crashes involving a commercial truck, the employer must test the driver for alcohol and controlled substances as soon as practicable. If an alcohol test is not done within two hours, the employer must keep a record of why. After eight hours, it must stop trying. For controlled substances, the employer must stop attempting the test after 32 hours. How long a claim takes depends on the facts, the injuries and the insurers involved.

Georgia Deadlines That Affect Your Truck Crash Claim

Georgia generally requires an injury lawsuit within two years after the right of action accrues. The rule comes from O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. Loss of consortium claims have a four-year limit under the same section, and the statute includes exceptions. Your dates need a specific review.

Fault also changes what you can recover. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, damages are reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault. A plaintiff who is 50 percent or more responsible may not receive any damages.

For a death, O.C.G.A. § 51-4-2 lets a surviving spouse, or if none, the children, recover the full value of the decedent’s life, as shown by the evidence.

Some evidence is time-sensitive, so the sooner the facts are reviewed, the better. A free evaluation looks at your specific dates and facts.

Why Work With T. Madden & Associates, P.C.

T. Madden & Associates, P.C. is a Georgia personal injury firm led by Terance Madden, in practice since 1999. Terance Madden is the responsible lawyer for this page.

• Lawyers. Terance Madden and Shenia Madden are the firm’s lawyers.
• Support. Our team includes assistants and office staff who help with records and scheduling.
• Offices. The firm has offices in Jonesboro (Clayton County), Atlanta, Decatur, Macon and Augusta. Clayton County truck crash reviews can start at the Jonesboro office.
• Fee. The firm handles cases on a no-fee-unless-we-win basis, but the client may still be responsible for court costs and case expenses.
• Confidentiality. The free first consultation is confidential and carries no obligation to continue.

Frequently Asked Questions About Truck Accident Case Evaluations