Truck accident attorneys note a tragic early morning accident on April 22, 2105 that claimed the lives of five nursing students. According to a preliminary crash report from the Georgia State Patrol, a fatal truck accident on I-16 may have been caused by a Louisiana truck driver who was following the car in front of him too closely to stop in time. The Highway Patrol reported that the investigation is ongoing as of May 4, 2015.
People who have been injured in a semi truck accident in Georgia or other states may be entitled to compensation for damages resulting from their injuries. If you or a loved one has been in an accident involving a semi truck, contact Attorney Group for Georgia for more information about your options. We can answer your questions in a free, no-obligation consultation. If you have a case, we can connect you with an affiliated truck accident attorney. State laws limit the time you have to pursue a claim, so contact us today.
Initial Report: Truck Driver Followed too Close
According to a WBTW-TV report, the accident occurred on April 22, 2015 around 6 a.m. In a preliminary crash report, the Louisiana truck driver was “following too closely” and hit an SUV, killing both girls in the car and causing a chain-reaction crash that resulted in the deaths of three more nursing students. A total of seven vehicles were involved in the fatal truck accident, and six of the drivers had been stopped in traffic due to a previous car accident.
The mother of the driver of the SUV is now filing a wrongful death lawsuit on her daughter’s behalf, alleging that negligence directly caused her daughter’s death. The lawsuit alleges that the semi truck driver was following too closely and acted carelessly, recklessly, and with total disregard of the safety of other drivers on the highway.
Injured Drivers May Be Entitled to Compensation
People who have been injured in an accident involving a semi truck may be entitled to compensation, also known as damages, from the party responsible for their injuries. Damages can be based on a number of factors, including:
- The nature, extent and permanency of the injury
- Past and future medical expenses
- Transportation and lodging costs due to medical treatment
- Past and future pain, suffering and mental anguish
- Loss of income
- Loss of earning capacity
- Scars and disfigurement, either from the injury itself or medical treatment
- Caretaking expenses
Family members of those killed due to the fault of another may be entitled to recover the following types of wrongful death damages:
- Mental anguish, both past and future, resulting from the loss of a loved one
- Loss of the relationship with the loved one
- Loss of financial support
- Funeral expenses
- Conscious pain and suffering of the loved one prior to death
- Medical expenses attributable to the fatal injury
If the actions of the at-fault party were intended to cause harm, or if the actions were so reckless that malice on the part of the at-fault party may be inferred, punitive damages may be imposed. The purpose of punitive damages is to punish a wrongdoer and to deter similar conduct in the future.
The Time to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
If you or a loved one has been in a semi truck accident, contact Attorney Group for Georgia for more information about your options. We offer free, no-obligation consultations in which we can answer your questions. If you have a case, we can connect you with an affiliated semi truck accident attorney. State laws limit the time you have to pursue a claim, so contact us today.
