The damages you can recover in a delivery truck accident include medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and wrongful death damages if a loved one suffered a fatal injury.
Delivery truck accident cases are often more complicated than regular car accidents because multiple parties could be responsible, federal and state trucking rules may apply, and insurance companies usually fight hard to limit payouts.
Our Marietta delivery truck accident lawyers help people across Georgia take on these challenges by investigating every detail. We’ll also handle insurance negotiations and stand up to big companies so clients can focus on healing.
What Damages Mean in a Delivery Truck Accident Case
“Damages” in personal injury law means the money awarded for the harm a person suffers. The purpose of damages is to restore you as much as possible to the position you were in before the accident.
While money cannot undo an injury, it can cover financial losses and provide support for the physical and emotional toll. Below are the three main types of damages in Georgia delivery truck cases:
- Economic damages: The real costs you can measure, like past and future medical bills and lost pay
- Non-economic damages: The personal losses you can’t put a price tag on, like pain and suffering and permanent injuries.
- Punitive damages: Additional damages meant to punish reckless or intentional wrongdoing
Economic Damages: Covering the Financial Costs
Economic damages are generally the most straightforward to calculate. These include:
- Medical expenses: Emergency care, hospital stays, surgery, rehabilitation, medication, and ongoing treatment
- Future medical care: If your injuries require long-term treatment, such as physical therapy or future surgeries
- Lost income: Wages you lost while recovering
- Reduced earning ability: If your injuries prevent you from returning to the same job or working full-time
- Property damage: Repairs or replacement of your vehicle and any personal property damaged in the crash
Insurance companies often try to minimize these amounts. Our lawyers will bring in medical and financial experts to prove the full value of your economic damages.
Non-Economic Damages: The Human Side of the Harm
Some of the worst losses after a truck crash are not financial. Georgia law allows recovery for pain, suffering, and emotional distress. Non-economic damages may include:
- Physical pain and suffering: Ongoing discomfort, chronic pain, or permanent disability
- Emotional distress: Anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress from the crash
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Not being able to do activities you once loved
- Loss of companionship: The loss of love and support that families can claim in wrongful death cases
Because these losses don’t come with receipts, they often lead to disputes with insurers. Skilled attorneys use testimony, medical records, and expert reports to show how your life has changed.
Punitive Damages: When Negligence Goes Beyond Carelessness
Georgia law allows punitive damages in cases where the driver or company acted with “willful misconduct” or “conscious indifference to consequences.” Examples include drunk driving, reckless driving, or a company knowingly sending out unsafe trucks.
Punitive damages are not automatic. They require proof of extreme behavior and are capped at $250,000 in most cases under Georgia law, except in cases involving DUI or certain intentional acts.
We Will Seek All Your Damages After a Commercial Truck Wreck
At Jones & Swanson, our truck accident lawyers in Marietta will advocate for you and work to recover all the damages you deserve. While you heal during recovery, we will lead your case by:
- Investigating the accident: Gathering black box data, driver logs, witness testimony, and video footage (if available)
- Identifying all liable parties: Making sure no responsible company or insurer is left out
- Handling insurance companies: Negotiating for the full financial value of your damages claim
- Filing a lawsuit if needed: Taking your case to trial if insurers refuse to be fair
- Helping with health insurance claims: Coordinating your medical insurance coverage so that your medical bills don’t overwhelm you while the case is ongoing
Our personal injury lawyers in Marietta will support you in every way possible. Legal support is especially important in delivery truck cases, where companies often have multiple insurers and legal teams working against you.
Filing a Wrongful Death Claim for Damages After a Fatal Injury
If a loved one dies in a delivery truck accident, Georgia law allows surviving family members to bring a wrongful death action. These damages can cover:
- The “full value of the life” of the deceased, which includes financial and personal aspects
- Funeral and burial costs
- Medical bills for treatment before death
Wrongful death claims are emotionally difficult, and families can face pressure from insurers to settle quickly. Having legal support from our wrongful death lawyer in Marietta ensures the case is handled with compassion and care.
Who Can You Demand Damages From After a Truck Crash?
Delivery truck crashes often involve more than just the driver. Other parties may share legal responsibility, such as:
- The trucking company: For poor hiring, training, or safety practices.
- The delivery service contractor: If the truck was leased or operated by a third party.
- Maintenance providers: If poor maintenance contributed to the accident
- Manufacturers: If defective truck parts played a role
Because multiple parties may be involved, these cases can quickly become complicated. Federal rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) also apply to commercial trucks, adding another layer of complexity.
We will handle tasks involving all of these areas when we work on your case.
How Long Do You Have to File an Injury Lawsuit in Georgia?
In Georgia, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, per Georgia Code § 9-3-33. Waiting too long can mean losing your right to recover damages, even if you have a strong case.
There may be shorter deadlines in situations involving government-owned vehicles, so it’s important to act quickly. We encourage you to reach out to our truck accident lawyers now.
Been in a Georgia Delivery Truck Crash? Take These Steps Next
Taking the following steps after a crash can protect your health and your case:
- Get medical care right away: Even if you feel fine, injuries may appear later.
- Call the police: An official accident report is key evidence.
- Gather evidence if possible: Take photos, collect witness information, and keep all documents.
- Avoid early settlements: Insurers may pressure you to accept a low offer quickly.
- Talk to our truck injury attorneys: The sooner you have representation, the stronger your case will be.
Call Jones & Swanson Today for Help With Recovering Damages
At Jones & Swanson, we know that delivery truck accidents leave clients with serious injuries, financial stress, and hard questions about the future. Unlike big firms that treat you like a number, we are a smaller firm by choice.
We return phone calls, answer emails, and provide personal attention to every case. Our delivery truck accident lawyers in Marietta combine compassion with proven results. We have the experience, resources, and diligence to handle severe injury cases against powerful companies and insurers.
You will have our full focus, care, and commitment as we work for you. We will also help you get medical care, even if you don’t have health insurance. Call today for a free consultation to learn how we will work to recover the damages you deserve after a delivery truck accident.
