Trial Attorney Blog
When a car collides with an 18-wheeler or commercial truck, the results can be catastrophic.
As truck accident attorneys, we’ve seen how quickly life can change for victims and their families.
What seems like a routine day on the road can turn into a nightmare in a split second.
Truck crashes are not like typical car accidents. The size, weight, and speed of these massive vehicles make them uniquely dangerous.
And unfortunately, that means the injuries are often more severe—and the path to recovery longer and more complicated.
If you’ve been injured in a trucking accident, understanding what you’re up against is the first step toward justice.
Why Trucking Accidents Are So Dangerous
It’s no secret that trucks dominate the highway. Weighing up to 80,000 pounds fully loaded, they’re capable of causing severe destruction even at low speeds.
When truck drivers are careless—or when the companies behind them cut corners—people get hurt.
Fatigue, distracted driving, speeding, overloaded trailers, mechanical failures, and even poorly maintained brakes or tires can all contribute to serious crashes.
And because trucking companies are often more focused on profits than safety, they’re quick to point fingers, hide evidence, or deny responsibility.
That’s where legal representation becomes essential—not just to protect your rights but to ensure you get the care, compensation, and closure you deserve.
Common Injuries in Truck Accidents
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are among the most serious wounds seen in vehicle accidents.
Long-term issues such as limited motion, chronic pain, or in serious cases, paralysis, can result from even a partial injury.
Victims often require surgery, rehabilitation, mobility aids, and in-home care—sometimes for the rest of their lives.
A truck accident lawyer can help you secure compensation for medical bills, long-term care, loss of income, and pain and suffering, ensuring you receive the support needed for recovery.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
A concussion or related brain harm may arise from any severe head injury.
With trucking accidents, TBIs are tragically common. Symptoms might not appear immediately, but over time, memory loss, personality changes, or cognitive decline can emerge.
It’s likely that victims will no longer have the ability to work, communicate, or take care of themselves.
A lawyer experienced in brain injury cases can gather medical evidence, consult neurologists, and build a strong claim to secure your future financial stability.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Truck accidents can easily break bones such as arms, legs, ribs, hips, and even the skull.
Some fractures are clean and heal well, but others are complex, requiring metal implants, multiple surgeries, and months of physical therapy.
The physical pain is often paired with emotional distress, especially when mobility or independence is lost.
A skilled truck accident lawyer can help you recover full damages, including for medical costs, therapy, missed work, and emotional suffering.
Internal Injuries
These are especially dangerous because they aren’t always visible.
A ruptured organ, internal bleeding, or punctured lung can be fatal if not treated immediately.
Even with emergency care, some internal injuries result in long-term complications that require ongoing treatment or surgery.
A lawyer can help prove the severity of these hidden injuries, negotiate with insurance companies, and ensure your medical needs are fully covered.
Burns
If a truck carries hazardous or flammable materials, an accident can lead to fires or chemical spills.
Victims may suffer second or third-degree burns, requiring skin grafts, reconstructive surgeries, and treatment for nerve damage.
Severe burns often result in permanent scarring and emotional trauma.
An burn injury attorney can investigate liability, especially in hazmat cases, and fight for compensation for both physical and psychological impacts.
Amputations and Crush Injuries
The sheer size of a truck makes crush injuries tragically common—especially when victims are pinned between vehicles or trapped inside crushed metal.
In some cases, limbs must be amputated to save a life.
Both physically and emotionally, losing a limb affects an individual’s life, and it frequently requires extensive therapy.
A compassionate truck accident lawyer can fight for long-term compensation, including prosthetic costs, home modifications, and emotional distress.
Soft Tissue Injuries and Whiplash
Victims can get whiplash, sprains, or torn ligaments even in lower-speed events.
These “invisible” injuries can affect daily function and create lasting pain.
Insurance companies often downplay these injuries, but we’ve seen firsthand how debilitating they can be for victims.
A lawyer can collect proper medical documentation and advocate on your behalf to prevent your injury from being dismissed or undervalued.
Psychological and Emotional Trauma
Not all injuries are visible. Many of our clients suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or anxiety after a violent crash.
Nightmares, fear of driving, or overwhelming grief—especially when the accident involves a loved one’s death—can deeply affect one’s quality of life.
A truck accident attorney understands how to incorporate these non-physical injuries into your claim and ensure emotional trauma is not overlooked during settlement negotiations.
The Financial Toll After a Truck Accident
After a truck accident, medical bills can pile up quickly. Between hospital visits, surgeries, therapy, and medications, many victims find themselves drowning in debt—especially if their injuries keep them out of work.
Then there’s the cost of replacing a vehicle, arranging childcare, modifying a home for a disability, or even hiring full-time care. For families, the burden can be overwhelming.
Many don’t realize just how much compensation they’re entitled to—or how hard the insurance companies will fight to avoid paying it.
That’s why it’s so important to work with a lawyer who understands the true value of your claim—not just what the insurance company offers.
How Compensation Works in Trucking Accidents
You may be entitled to lots of types of compensation if you were hurt in a truck accident, including:
- Medical expenses (past, present, and future)
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage
- Long-term care costs
- Disability or disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Funeral costs, income loss, and the emotional impact of losing a parent, spouse, or child can all be compensated by wrongful death claims for families who have lost a loved one.
But to claim this compensation, you’ll need to prove liability.
This involves gathering data, checking into the accident, talking with experts, and remaining aware of the complex federal trucking regulations.
This is not something you should try to do alone—especially when trucking companies and their insurers come prepared with teams of attorneys.
How a Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
Following an automobile accident, the legal process can be very difficult. Right away as an accident happens, trucking companies begin taking action.
They may hide or destroy evidence, manipulate driver logs, or push victims to accept lowball settlements.
As truck accident attorneys, it is our duty to level the playing field.
We work to:
- Preserve crucial evidence (like black box data, inspection logs, and dashcam footage)
- Consult with accident reconstruction experts
- Calculate the full value of your claim, including future care and losses
- Negotiate aggressively with insurers
- Prepare your case for trial if a fair settlement isn’t offered
Most importantly, we take the burden off your shoulders so you can focus on what truly matters—healing, recovery, and rebuilding your life.
How Finch McCranie LLP Can Support You
At Finch McCranie LLP, we’ve been representing injury victims and families in Georgia for more than 50 years.
We are not a high-volume personal injury firm that pushes quick settlements.
Instead, we focus on serious, life-altering cases—and give them the personal attention they deserve.
Our legal team includes seasoned trial lawyers with decades of experience handling complex truck accident cases.
We understand the medical, emotional, and financial strain our clients go through—and we make it our mission to fight for full and fair compensation.
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay us unless we recover money for you.
There are no upfront costs, no hidden fees—just honest, committed representation.
We’re not just here to file paperwork. We’re here to stand by your side, guide you through the legal maze, and hold trucking companies accountable for the harm they’ve caused.
Final Thoughts
Trucking accidents leave more than just physical scars. They change lives. They take away jobs, mobility, independence—and sometimes even loved ones.
Their is assistance offered if you or someone you care about has been injured in a trucking accident. The road to justice may be long, but with the right legal team on your side, it’s a road you don’t have to walk by yourself.
Let Finch McCranie LLP help you get the compensation—and the closure—you deserve.
FAQ’s
How is a truck accident different from a regular car crash legally?
Truck accidents involve more than just a driver—you’re often dealing with a trucking company, insurers, and multiple third parties. These cases also involve federal safety regulations and require deeper investigation. It’s not a typical fender-bender; it’s a high-stakes legal battle that demands experience and fast action.
In a truck accident complaint, which evidence is most essential?
This might indicate whether the truck wasn’t roadworthy, the driver was overworked, or both.We act quickly to safeguard this evidence before it is destroyed or lost.
Should I contact with the insurance adjuster for the bus company?
No. It’s their duty to protect the company’s assets, not you. Your claim may be contradicted by anything you say. Always let a lawyer handle those conversations—it keeps your rights and case secure.
How much compensation can I expect?
That depends on your injuries, losses, and future needs. We evaluate long-term care, pain, mental trauma, healthcare costs, and lost income. It is our duty to fight for full compensation, instead of just what the insurance company wants to pay.
How much does it cost to use Finch McCranie LLP?
You pay nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee—meaning we only get paid if we win your case. No bills, no hidden fees—just focused legal help when you need it most.