Truck accidents can be far more devastating than passenger vehicle crashes. Due to the size and weight of commercial trucks, both injuries and property damage are often severe. As a result, the costs that follow can be astronomical. Medical bills, lost income, and long-term care expenses can pile up fast.
If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, protecting yourself financially is critical. In this article, we’ll explore how to handle the situation in a way that provides you with the best protection.
Hire a truck accident lawyer
Your first step should be to hire a personal injury lawyer who specializes in truck accidents. Most attorneys offer free consultations and many take cases on a contingency basis, which means you won’t pay until or unless you win.
Don’t automatically assume the accident was your fault. Your perception may not be the whole story. Truck driver negligence happens, and can involve:
- Changing lanes without signaling
- Driving more hours than legally allowed
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Driving under the influence
- Driving while distracted
- Overloaded vehicles
- Poor truck maintenance
- Poor driver training
All of these issues can contribute to a truck accident where the truck driver is at fault.
Hiring an attorney is essential when it comes to negotiating a settlement
With a lawyer, you’ll avoid costly mistakes trying to deal with insurance companies on your own, and you’ll have a better chance at recovering the compensation you deserve.
Insurance companies are for-profit corporations and will go to great lengths to protect their profits. Adjusters will try to devalue your claim as much as possible, offer you lowball settlements, and may even deny your claim altogether. They are counting on your ignorance, hoping you’ll take the first low settlement they offer, or accept the denial and go away.
When you have an attorney, the insurance company will be more cooperative when negotiating your settlement.
Seek medical attention immediately
No matter how you feel, get to a doctor right away for an evaluation and treatment. If your injuries are serious, it’s crucial to see a doctor in an official healthcare setting because your ability to recover compensation will hinge on your medical records. If you take care of your injuries at home, you won’t be able to prove your case.
When an insurance company sees that a claimant hasn’t received medical attention, it’s a red flag for fraud. The longer you delay treatment, the harder it will be to win your claim, whether you negotiate directly or file a lawsuit.
Document everything
Documentation will be the foundation of your claim. Gather everything possible, including photos and videos, police reports, details of the crash, and witness contact information and even statements. The more evidence you have, the stronger your case will be.
Take as many photos of the scene as possible, including vehicle damage, road conditions, and visible injuries. Stay on top of getting your police report – sometimes police say they’ll contact you when it’s available, but sometimes they forget.
Notify your insurance company
Be prepared to report the accident to your insurance company, but be careful about what you share. Ideally, you should consult an attorney first, but in any case, stick to the facts and don’t accept a fast settlement. Don’t give recorded statements without talking to your lawyer. Insurance adjusters will sound friendly and compassionate, but they’re trained to minimize payouts. If you say the wrong thing, they can devalue or outright deny your claim. If you accept an early settlement offer, you’re likely to get significantly less than you deserve, and it may not even cover your medical bills.
File your claim fast
Make sure to file your claim before the statute of limitations runs out. Each state has a time limit for filing a personal injury lawsuit, and it’s typically just 2-3 years. In addition to the time limit, critical evidence can disappear fast if you don’t act to preserve it immediately. For example, black box data, vehicle maintenance logs, andhours-of-service records are only kept for short periods of time.
Plan for the future
After a truck accident injury, it’s important to think long-term. Your recovery might span months or even years, and it will help to create a long-term financial plan that accounts for future care, potential vehicle modifications, and employment modifications. Being proactive will make your recovery easier.
Act fast to protect your future
Being involved in a truck accident can be overwhelming, but waiting to take legal action can prevent you from getting compensation. The road to recovery is hard enough. Talk to a truck accident attorney right away and let them handle your claim.