Be Ready for Your Truck Accident Consultation

Truck Accident Consultation Checklist for Clayton County Crash Victims

Here is a truck accident consultation checklist Clayton County residents can work through on their own. It helps you sort your facts before you talk with a lawyer. Answer each yes/no test to see whether your crash fits, which deadlines to watch, what to gather, and what a consultation covers.

What This Checklist Is For and Who Should Use It

This checklist is for anyone hurt in a crash with a commercial truck. It also helps a family member or friend who is acting for the injured person. If someone died, the same steps help you organize what you know.

Use it to write down facts while they’re still fresh. It doesn’t replace a conversation about your specific facts. It also can’t tell you how a claim will turn out.

Next step: Keep your answers in one folder. If you’re unsure about any item, write that down too.

Part 1: Does the Crash Fit the Checklist?

A crash fits this checklist when a commercial truck was involved, the crash happened in Clayton County, and someone was hurt or killed. Answer each test below.

Was a commercial truck involved? Tractor-trailers, box trucks, and dump trucks all count. The truck type affects which records exist, so write it down.

Did the crash happen in Clayton County? Include crashes on interstates and local roads near Jonesboro. The location decides which police agency wrote the report.

Were you or a family member hurt, or did someone die? Injury claims and wrongful death claims follow different paths. Under Georgia wrongful death law, a surviving spouse may bring the claim, or children if there is no surviving spouse.

Did you need medical care? Emergency transport, urgent care, and follow-up visits all count. Treatment records are central to any claim.

Were you partly at fault? Georgia reduces damages by your share of fault. A person who is 50 percent or more responsible recovers no damages, under Georgia fault apportionment law. Write down what each driver was doing before the crash.

Next step: If you answered yes to most of these, bring your answers to the consultation. If you’re unsure about any item, say so.

Part 2: Deadlines and Notice Requirements

Georgia generally gives two years to file a personal injury lawsuit (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33; Kenneth B. Cameron v. Jmp Pizza, Inc (2026)). Some claims have shorter notice rules, so check each test below and mark the dates.

Has more than a few months passed since the crash? Georgia generally requires a personal injury lawsuit to be filed within two years. A Georgia Court of Appeals opinion quotes this rule.

Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, except as otherwise provided in that article, actions for injuries to the person must be brought within two years after the right of action accrues. Actions for injuries to the reputation must be brought within one year, and actions for injuries to the person involving loss of consortium within four years. Except as otherwise provided in its article, O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 sets two years after the right of action accrues for bringing actions for injuries to the person. It sets one year for injuries to the reputation and four years for personal injury actions involving loss of consortium.

Have you received a letter with a claim number or a deadline? Insurer letters can list dates. Keep the letter with your folder.

Next step: Write the crash date and every deadline in one place. Bring those dates to your consultation.

Part 3: Documents and Evidence to Bring

Gather what you can now, and list what’s missing. Start by answering these tests.

Do you have the crash report number or the agency name? Note the report number, the responding agency, and the date. If you don’t have the number, the agency name and date still help.

Do you have photos or video? Look for the scene, both vehicles, and your injuries. Photos taken soon after a crash are often the most useful.

Do you have medical records, discharge papers, and bills? Write down each provider and visit date, even from memory.

Do you have proof of lost wages? Pay stubs, work schedules, or an employer letter show time missed from work.

Do you know the truck company’s name and any witnesses? The carrier’s name often appears on the cab, the door, or the paperwork. Witness details are hard to find later.

Did anyone mention a drug or alcohol test? The FMCSA testing guide explains these requirements.

Next step: Put these items in one folder or envelope. List anything you can’t find so it can be discussed at the consultation.

Part 4: Insurance Calls and Recorded Statements

Before you give a statement or accept money, write down each contact and review it. Insurer calls often come fast after a crash.

Has an adjuster from the truck company or its insurer called you? Write down the caller’s name, company, date, and what was asked.

Were you asked for a recorded statement or to sign a release? These requests can affect your claim. Take time to review them before you answer.

Were you offered money or told the claim is closed? Compare any offer with your records before you accept it. If a government health program paid for your care, repayment questions may come up when a settlement is discussed.

Next step: Bring your notes to the consultation. Ask how to handle future calls.

How the Free Consultation Works

The process starts with a call or the online form. The first consultation is free and confidential.

1. Contact the firm. Calls can be made 24/7, or you can use the online contact form.
2. Attend the free first consultation. It is confidential and carries no obligation to continue.
3. Review your folder together. Go through your yes/no answers, missing records, and insurer contacts.
4. Decide your next step. You don’t have to hire the firm. Cases are handled on a no fee unless we win basis, but you may still be responsible for court costs and case expenses.

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

T. Madden & Associates, P.C. is a Georgia personal injury firm that has practiced since 1999. Terance Madden leads the firm. The firm’s lawyers include Terance Madden and Shenia Madden.

Our team includes assistants and office staff. The firm has offices in Jonesboro (Clayton County), Atlanta, Decatur, Macon, and Augusta.

The firm handles truck accidents, car accidents, motorcycle and e-bike crashes, slip and falls, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, negligent security, wrongful death, and catastrophic injury cases. Every case turns on its own facts.

Frequently Asked Questions and Next Step

This page is general information, not legal advice. Responsible lawyer: Terance Madden, T. Madden & Associates, P.C., Jonesboro, Georgia. Contact: tmaddenlaw.com/contact.