What Legal Options Do I Have If I'm Injured in an Accident Caused by a Truck Driver?
If you’re injured in a truck accident, you can often seek compensation from any liable parties. These might include the truck driver, trucking company, or even the truck manufacturer if there was a defect. The legal process following a truck crash is complicated and often involves highly technical evidence and corporate insurers, so you need an experienced legal advocate in your corner.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a truck accident, a truck accident attorney will protect your rights and seek compensation.
Why Truck Accidents Are Different
Truck accidents aren’t like regular car crashes. First, trucks are much bigger and heavier vehicles, so they can cause more damage to smaller cars, so the resulting injuries to victims are often catastrophic. This can result in higher stakes claims in many cases.
Further, there is often more than one party sharing liability in truck cases, often requiring juggling multiple insurance claims. It is important to identify all liable parties, as trucking companies have much higher policy limits than individual drivers do, opening the door to greater compensation for severe injuries.
Truck accident cases often involve the analysis and application of trucking industry standards and regulations that do not apply in other types of vehicle accident claims. All these reasons mean you need a skilled truck accident lawyer handling your case from the start.
Dealing with Trucking Company Insurance Claims
It is not enough to simply file a claim and point the blame at a truck driver. You need sufficient proof they were negligent for the insurance company to accept liability. Insurers might contact you soon after the accident and seem like they want to help. They are likely seeking information to use against your claim.
Remember the following:
- Don’t give a recorded statement to insurers without talking to a lawyer
- Don’t sign anything without legal advice
- Don’t accept a quick settlement offer without have a lawyer review it
It’s always best to have a lawyer deal with the insurer for you. This way, you can ensure you will not say or do anything to unintentionally jeopardize your claim.
Your truck accident attorney can handle all communications with the insurance adjuster and present evidence to prove the fault of the truck driver and/or trucking company. Evidence might include the following and more:
- The truck’s black box data
- The driver’s logbooks
- Trucking company records
- Dashcam footage
- Witness testimony
- Expert analysis
Once your attorney can prove fault, they will move on to proving your losses. They will negotiate until the insurance company offers you a fair settlement. If you do not receive a sufficient offer, you might need to pursue a lawsuit in civil court.
Injured in a Truck Accident? Call a Charleston Truck Accident Attorney
At John Price Law Firm, our truck accident lawyers can help if you’re dealing with serious injuries, and difficult insurance companies after a truck accident. Let us handle the legal process so you can focus on recovering from your injuries. Call our office or contact us online for a free case evaluation today.