🚛 Savannah Practice Area

Truck & 18-Wheeler Accidents Lawyer in Savannah, Georgia

Port of Savannah traffic on I-16 and I-95 makes truck wrecks common — and federal trucking rules apply.

The Port of Savannah is one of the busiest container ports in the country, and the trucking traffic that feeds it runs constantly along I-95, I-16, and Highway 21 toward Garden City. That volume of heavy commercial traffic — often driven by fatigued or rushed drivers working tight delivery schedules — makes truck accidents a serious and recurring danger for everyone else on Savannah's roads.

Truck crash cases are different from ordinary car accidents. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations govern how long a driver can be on the road, how the vehicle must be maintained, and what the trucking company must document. When those rules are broken, they create powerful evidence — but trucking companies and their insurers move fast to protect themselves, sometimes sending investigators to the scene within hours. We move just as fast to preserve black box data, driver logs, and maintenance records before they can be lost or altered.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Savannah

  • Driver fatigue from Hours-of-Service violations
  • Improperly secured or overloaded cargo heading to or from the Port of Savannah
  • Poor vehicle maintenance and brake failure
  • Wide turns and blind spots at Savannah's tight downtown intersections
  • Distracted or drowsy driving on I-16 and I-95
  • Inadequate driver training or trucking company negligence in hiring

Common Injuries We See

  • Crush injuries and severe fractures
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Spinal cord damage and paralysis
  • Internal bleeding and organ trauma
  • Amputation
  • Fatal injuries in high-speed underride collisions

Local Context: What Makes Savannah Cases Different

Because so much freight moves through the Garden City and Port Wentworth terminals, truck traffic on I-95, I-16, and Highway 21 is dense at nearly all hours. We routinely subpoena electronic logging device (ELD) data, dispatch records, and weigh station records from carriers operating in and out of the Port of Savannah, since these documents are often the difference between a fair settlement and a lowball offer.

Georgia Statute of Limitations

Truck accident claims are subject to Georgia's two-year statute of limitations under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, but time-sensitive evidence like black box data and driver logs can be destroyed on a routine schedule — sometimes within days. Trucking companies are required to preserve evidence once they receive a spoliation letter, which we send immediately upon being retained.

Compensation You May Be Entitled To

  • Extensive past and future medical costs, including surgery and rehabilitation
  • Long-term or permanent lost earning capacity
  • Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life
  • Home and vehicle modifications for permanent injuries
  • Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
  • Claims against multiple defendants: driver, trucking company, cargo loader, and maintenance contractor
Don't Wait to Get Help

Insurance companies often move quickly to protect themselves after an accident. Evidence can disappear, memories fade, and legal deadlines apply. The sooner you speak with our office, the more we can do to protect your claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Liability can extend beyond the driver to the trucking company, the company that loaded the cargo, a maintenance contractor, or even the truck manufacturer, depending on what caused the crash.
Most commercial trucks have an electronic control module that records speed, braking, and other data in the moments before a crash. This data is critical evidence but can be overwritten, which is why we act quickly to send preservation letters.
Truck accident cases often involve more severe injuries and higher insurance policy limits (commercial policies frequently carry $750,000 to $1 million or more in coverage), which can lead to larger recoveries when liability is clear.
FMCSA Hours-of-Service rules, mandatory drug and alcohol testing, vehicle inspection requirements, and driver qualification standards all apply. Violations of these federal rules can be powerful evidence of negligence.
As soon as possible. Trucking companies often send rapid-response teams to the scene to gather evidence favorable to them. The sooner we're involved, the sooner we can preserve evidence on your behalf.

Why Choose Kenneth S. Nugent, P.C. for Your Truck Accidents Case in Savannah

We've represented injured Georgians for decades, and our Savannah office focuses on the specific roads, courts, and hazards that make Chatham County cases unique. We handle the insurance company, the paperwork, and the legal deadlines — you focus on recovering. There's no fee unless we win your case.

Related

Other Ways We Help Injured Savannah Residents

Injured? One Call Could Change Everything.

Free, confidential consultation. No fee unless we win your case.

Call (912) 715-9288