After Hiring Truck Accident Lawyers, Do I Need To Do Anything Else?

Posted April 17, 2023 | Personal Injury Blog

Professional drivers are responsible for maintaining an appropriate license and operating their vehicles safely per federal, state, and local laws. Any failure in these areas could contribute to an accident. The Texas Department of Transportation reported more than 30,000 commercial vehicle accidents in 2021. Of those, 1334 were suspected to be serious, causing 630 fatalities and more than 7,000 injuries.

The size and weight of commercial trucks can contribute to severe injuries even at low speeds. They also do significant damage to passenger vehicles, which often means finding alternative transportation and missing school or work during the process. Unfortunately, this is far more common than you might expect.

If you have been involved in a truck accident, you already know how traumatic the experience is. Hiring experienced truck accident lawyers is the first step to regaining control of the incident and moving forward. Once you hire an attorney, you can focus on your recovery, repairing or replacing your vehicle, and overcoming the emotional trauma of the accident.

How Truck Accident Lawyers Help

When you hire a truck accident lawyer at Fielding Law, you automatically get personalized attention and years of legal experience. In addition, your attorney will help you navigate the post-accident process through the following actions.

Communicate With Insurance Companies and Other Attorneys

Insurance companies do not generally have a claimant’s best interest at heart. Instead, they will often try to make lowball settlement offers. In some cases, they will outright deny claims. Additionally, some insurance companies may try to trick you into agreeing to a settlement or admitting responsibility for an accident.

The best way to avoid falling victim to an insurance company’s tactics is to avoid direct communication with them. After hiring a truck accident attorney, you can do that. Your lawyer will handle all communication with insurers on your behalf. Attorneys will also communicate with other attorneys, investigators, and involved authorities.

Conduct an Accident Investigation

When you feel an accident report, it triggers an investigation. However, the resulting report may be missing critical information. Your attorney will conduct a comprehensive investigation to uncover any missing facts relevant to the case by completing the following actions:

• Collect evidence that impacts the accident, such as witness statements, accident photos, and videos from nearby surveillance cameras.
• Determine fault by talking to witnesses and reviewing existing accident documentation. If a driver or trucking company has violated applicable regulations outlined in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations or the Texas Vehicle Code, they may be guilty of negligence.
• Pinpoint damages resulting from the accident, such as physical injuries, property damage, lost wages, and emotional trauma.

Assist With Establishing Compensation Amounts

Accident attorneys are familiar with expenses related to accident cases and will help determine a compensation amount that makes you whole. However, assigning a dollar amount to injuries is not as straightforward as it might seem. The final figures must include many costs beyond medical bills that are frequently overlooked. For example, you may fail to include your time, lost wages, fuel, and parking costs for each medical appointment.

Explain the Legal Process

Accident litigation is confusing unless you have extensive legal experience. An experienced attorney will guide you through the process, explaining each step in a manner you understand.

Manage Litigation

Experienced accident lawyers skillfully manage the litigation process. This includes navigating federal and Texas truck regulations that apply to your case. Also, remember that many claims are settled before going to court, so having the right attorney in your corner can speed up the process while minimizing the disruption of a court case.

What To Do After Hiring Truck Accident Lawyers

Hiring an attorney is a crucial first step in your recovery after a truck accident. The right firm will handle the major aspects of your case, freeing up your time to focus on recovering — emotionally and physically.

Once you have secured legal representation, you will be free from many responsibilities. However, there are still a few things you must do.

Seek Appropriate Medical Care

You should seek medical attention whenever you suffer an accident-related injury, even if you think it is minor. This is critical for several reasons. First, a medical report definitively links your injuries to the accident. You may need that during litigation.

Additionally, some common accident injuries, such as whiplash and internal damage, may not appear for several days. Therefore, a quick check by paramedics at the scene may miss hidden injuries. Finally, seeing a doctor establishes the necessary steps for treating your injury.

Remember that following your doctor’s orders throughout your recovery is imperative. This establishes your injury’s severity and your dedication to a full recovery.

Avoid Making Admissions or Discussing the Accident

It is best to avoid discussing your accident and claim, regardless of the situation. However, if you find yourself talking about it, never admit guilt or downplay your injuries. For example, you may tell your employer you feel able to return to work even though your doctor hasn’t cleared you for regular duty. Statements such as these can be misinterpreted and could harm your claim.

Limit Contact With Other Parties

Your attorney will handle all communication with other interested parties. This includes other lawyers, insurance companies, and the trucking company. However, they may still try to contact you. Resist the urge to speak with anyone else involved in the legal case without your attorney present. You may say something that gets misconstrued and held against you during negotiations or a trial.

Refer Communications to Your Attorney

If someone does reach out to you, the safest route is to refer them to your attorney. The same thing goes for written and electronic communications. This is one of the most significant ways truck accident lawyers help clients regain time to focus on healing.

Schedule Your Free Case Evaluation 

The attorneys at Fielding Law have extensive experience managing truck accident claims. Each client is treated with respect and granted the attention she deserves. Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation to experience our unique, personal approach to truck accident injury cases.