Attorney Terance Madden, an Augusta personal injury attorney and founder of T. Madden & Associates, P.C., is urging Georgia drivers to know the steps that protect their health and their legal rights after a crash with a commercial truck, especially when the truck driver leaves the scene. The firm's catastrophic injury attorneys represent people statewide whose lives have been upended by trucking collisions on interstates such as I-75 and I-20.
Truck Accident Lawyer Explains What to Do After a Hit-and-Run
Attorney Madden recommends these steps for anyone hit by a commercial truck that does not stop:
• Call 911 and get medical care right away, even if injuries seem minor at first.
• Note any details about the truck, including the company name, trailer markings, USDOT number, color, and direction of travel.
• Ask witnesses for contact information and whether they have dash camera footage.
• Once it is safe, photograph the scene, vehicle damage, and visible injuries.
• Keep all medical records, police reports, and repair estimates.
Victims should notify their own insurer promptly. If the driver is never identified, uninsured motorist coverage may help pay for injuries.
“Trucking companies and their insurers often start building their defense within hours of a serious crash,” said Attorney Terance Madden. Victims who preserve evidence early, from video to the truck's identifying details, are in a far better position to hold the right parties accountable.”
Why Truck Accident Claims Require Early Investigation
Commercial carriers must follow federal safety rules on driver hours, vehicle maintenance, and hiring, and key evidence such as electronic logging device data, onboard camera video, and driver qualification files can be overwritten or lost if it is not requested promptly. In Georgia, fleeing the scene of an injury crash can also bring criminal charges on top of civil liability, and the resulting arrest can serve as powerful evidence in the civil claim.
Attorney Terance Madden says thorough documentation of a victim's past treatment, projected future care, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering is what allows a catastrophic injury claim to reflect the true cost of a crash.
A Firm Built for Catastrophic Injury Litigation
Augusta personal injury lawyer Terance Madden and the T. Madden & Associates, P.C. legal team represent clients throughout Georgia in catastrophic injury, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, trucking accident, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases. Catastrophic injury litigation often requires coordinating with neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, and life-care planners to fully document a client's injuries and future needs, resources the firm brings to every catastrophic injury case.
About T. Madden & Associates, P.C.
Established nearly 25 years ago by Georgia personal injury lawyer Terance Madden, T. Madden & Associates, P.C. is a boutique catastrophic injury law firm providing experienced legal representation statewide from its offices in Atlanta, Decatur, Jonesboro, Macon, and Augusta. Led by an executive partnership of veteran attorneys, the firm specializes in severe automobile and trucking collisions, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death. The firm operates on a no-fees-unless-we-win basis to keep legal help accessible to all, coupling high-powered trial advocacy with dedicated client care. The firm also gives back through The Terance Madden Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that has awarded college scholarships to more than 250 Atlanta-area students over the past decade. Learn more at https://www.tmaddenlaw.com/. Contact T. Madden & Associates, P.C. for a free consultation.