What type of injury have you suffered?
Car Accident
- Car Accident
- Head Injury
- Premises Liability
- Products Liability
- Truck Accident
- Wrongful Death
Car Accident
HABLAMOS ESPAÑOL
(877) 880-4090
The moments following a collision with a large truck can be panic-inducing. Upon closer inspection, you might find that the damage is actually minimal and you might feel that you can simply walk away without seeking any type of official assistance.
The truth of the matter is that even seemingly minor accidents involving large trucks can be more damaging and more costly than what is apparent at first glance. There are, therefore, many key reasons why you should consider hiring a truck accident lawyer after any crash.
Recognizing the potential severity and unavoidable complexity of a truck accident will help you make the best decisions after a collision occurs. Working with a dedicated truck accident lawyer will ensure that you can address the unique challenges before you in the event that you need to file a claim.
Large trucks pose a far more serious threat than typical vehicles on the road. What seems like a minor bumper tap from a big rig can actually cause significant damage to the exterior or interior of your car that is not visible at first.
Similarly, these types of accidents can also cause injuries to you or your passengers that are not immediately apparent. You might not feel pain or experience symptoms related to whiplash, spinal injuries or other types of internal damage until much later. It is always a good idea to seek medical attention after an accident.
It can be equally prudent to involve a truck accident lawyer early in the process to help you cover all your bases when accounting for damages to yourself and your vehicle. This gives you a better chance at avoiding the burden of paying for costly repairs out of your own pocket.
Your lawyer can represent you and advocate for you in discussions with the insurance company. You deserve compensation even for low-cost repairs that become necessary after a collision. If the damage is not readily-apparent or imperceivably to the eye or through photographs, you might experience some resistance when filing a claim.
Even in cases when the insurance company seems amenable to your claim, you might find that they offer a lowball settlement that is less than you deserve. Your truck accident lawyer can help you interpret your insurance policy and negotiate on your behalf to ensure that you get what is due.
Not only can it be difficult to prove fault in an accident that results in relatively minor damage, but truck accidents can be particularly tricky when it comes to identifying all of the at-fault parties. It is rarely so cut-and-dry as simply blaming the truck driver. While it is true that a trucker driver can be guilty of negligent behavior such as operating the vehicle while fatigued, distracted or even intoxicated, the actual trucking company or its partners may bear some or all of the liability as well.
Employers are responsible for the policies they enact, shippers are responsible for loading practices and manufacturers are responsible for the quality of the parts they release to the market. It is important to identify and pursue all liable parties, otherwise, you might miss out on receiving the full amount of compensation that you rightfully deserve. Your truck accident lawyer can be instrumental in this process.
In addition to contacting a truck accident lawyer, there are several other essential actions to take immediately after any truck accident, regardless of how minor it may be.
The first step is to see to your safety and that of your passengers. Any individuals who experience a serious injury should not move until emergency personnel arrive. Otherwise, everyone involved in the accident should pull their vehicles to the side of the road and keep a safe distance from traffic.
Immediately after confirming the condition of yourself and your passengers, you should contact 911 and wait for authorities to arrive on the scene. Make sure to seek medical attention from responders even if you feel fine.
Before leaving the site of the accident, it is wise to document the accident thoroughly. Exchange information with the truck driver for insurance purposes, take photographs and get the names and badge numbers of law enforcement officers at the scene.
Contact the insurance company and your lawyer soon after the accident. It is to your benefit to get the ball rolling on your claims process, but make sure to not accept any offers or sign any documents from the insurance company before consulting your truck accident lawyer.
It is impossible to overstate that even a seemingly minor accident can result in potentially life-changing injuries that are not immediately apparent. Contacting your truck accident lawyer soon after an accident occurs helps to cover your bases in the event that an injury comes to light sometime after the crash.
By knowing some of the common injuries that often result from truck accidents, you can be proactive in seeking the right kind of medical attention and your legal team can prepare your personal injury case accordingly. Some of these common truck accident injuries include:
The National Safety Council reports the involvement of 107,000 large trucks in accidents resulting in injuries for the year 2020. Whether minor or major, these types of injuries all require proper medical attention to avoid the worsening of symptoms.
The role of a truck accident lawyer following your crash goes beyond simply advocating for you in a courtroom. By understanding the broader scope of what a lawyer can do for you, you can better understand why it can be a good idea to hire legal help after any type of accident.
Even minor accidents are serious affairs in the eyes of the law, and they can even result in death in very rare cases. You must report an accident that results in death to the state, a process that your lawyer can help you complete while being sensitive to your situation and minimizing the risk of costly errors.
An often-overlooked aspect of vehicle accidents is the fact that you might miss work due to an injury or required medical treatment. Your job benefits might entitle you to wage replacement, and your truck accident lawyer can help you understand these benefits as well as pursue them if your employer presents any obstacles in the process.
Your truck accident lawyer can also, of course, help you hold the at-fault parties responsible for property damages as well as injuries incurred by you or your passengers. You should not be responsible for paying medical bills or repair costs for damages caused by the negligence of another party.
A truck accident lawyer can explain your rights to you, communicate with all relevant parties on your behalf and handle the complicated filing of forms and reports that are typical of a personal injury or insurance claim case. Your legal team can also help you compile eyewitness testimony, medical records and police reports into a solid stack of evidence that will empower you to collect your due compensation from all liable parties. Call or message Fielding Law to learn more about what our team can do for you.