If you happen to be in an accident caused by a truck, the last thing on your mind is dealing with the truck accident claim process. You need to take care of many things right away, like getting treatment for any injuries, taking care of car damage, and finding repair facilities. While insurance companies should be responsible for making sure you do everything else, they can become difficult when trying to get them to pay what they believe they are responsible for. When dealing with any insurance company, it helps to have a professional who knows how insurance companies work. This article will help you understand the best practices for filing a truck accident claim.
Contact a Lawyer Immediately
If you have been injured in a truck accident, the first thing that you should do is to contact an experienced truck accident lawyer right away. They will handle all communications with the insurance company on your behalf and will be able to guide you through the entire claim process. A rushed settlement agreement at this point may not fully compensate you for your injuries and damages, which is why it is important to contact a lawyer before talking with the insurance company about your claim.
Your Attorney Should Handle All Communication About Your Accident
One of the most common mistakes people make after an accident is speaking to the other driver’s insurance company. Never speak to an insurance company until you’ve consulted your attorney. The insurance company will record your statement and try to use it against you down the road when they are offering a settlement. Even if you think your statement is harmless and accurate, it’s best not to speak to them until after you’ve consulted with an attorney. You may not be aware of all your legal rights and options. The insurance company could use any statements against you later in court or during settlement negotiations if necessary.
Allow Your Lawyer and the Insurance Companies to Gather Evidence About the Accident
Your attorney will work with police officers, accident reconstruction specialists, and other experts to obtain evidence concerning the truck accident and determine what happened. This can include gathering photographs of the accident scene, obtaining surveillance video footage of the crash, compiling witness testimony, etc. Your attorney can also gather important documents related to your case, including medical records showing your injuries and any other documentation relating to your medical treatment or the scope of your losses. This can include documentation from insurance companies and law enforcement officials who investigated the crash.
Analyze Liability Issues Related to Your Truck Accident Claim
Truck accidents can be among the most devastating of all traffic accidents. A typical truck’s sheer size and weight mean that any collision with another vehicle or pedestrian is likely explosive and catastrophic. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, your head may be spinning as you try to figure out what happened and how to get help with your medical bills, lost income, and other costs of the accident. The first step is figuring out liability — who was responsible for the accident. Remember that even if you’re sure that you weren’t at fault, trucking companies and their insurers will do everything to blame you.
Negotiation
In most truck accident lawsuits, the bargaining process lasts the entire time. Negotiations may begin before you have a chance to choose an attorney to represent you in your case. Some lawyers even recommend that you settle at the earliest stages of litigation. A settlement costs less than a trial, but it’s also more likely to include a less favorable settlement agreement for your case.
Proceed to Court
If your case reaches the mediation stage but negotiations fail, your truck accident lawyer may recommend that you go to trial. Your attorney needs to demonstrate that the truck driver was responsible for causing the accident during a trial in court. This proof includes information on how much money you spent on medical bills and other costs resulting from your injury. Both your lawyer and the insurance company will be able to provide evidence supporting their respective claims for reimbursement. After that, a jury will decide the amount of compensation you are entitled to based on the evidence given to them throughout the trial.
Wait for Payment
After submitting your claim to the trucking company, it’s time to wait for payment. The trucking company and their insurance company will either pay you the amount you’re owed or deny your claim. If they offer you a settlement, don’t accept it right away. It might not be enough to cover the full extent of your damages. A truck accident lawyer can help you determine if their offer is fair, given your injuries and expenses.
Bottom Line
Finding an experienced attorney should be your top priority when you have been injured in a truck accident. An experienced attorney will handle the insurance companies and settlement negotiations while you focus on recovering from your injuries. This article details what happens during the truck accident claim process and the role of an experienced attorney in your case.
