Introduction
Any accident involving a commercial truck needs the attention of commercial vehicle lawyers or an 18 wheeler accident lawyer. Commercial trucks are large, heavy, and difficult to stop in an emergency. When accidents involving these trucks occur, they can lead to severe injuries or even death. If a commercial truck driver has injured you, you need to enforce your legal rights since it’s important for securing compensation for your injuries. You need to have one or more trucking accidents lawyers on your side.
The laws surrounding any accident are complex. However, there are two things that you should know about them immediately if you were involved in an accident with a commercial truck:
- The fact that you were not at fault does not automatically mean that you will receive compensation from the liable party;
- You cannot take on insurance companies without professional help.
These two points are very important because of the way negotiations between insurance companies work. Once you have established fault, or even earlier in the process, your next step should be to contact truck accident lawyers so that they can ensure that the liable party is held accountable for their actions and given financial responsibility for your injuries.
It’s also important to note that filing an accident claim on your own can be quite overwhelming. The costs involved with hiring an attorney will often seem like a high price to pay at first glance. Still, when you consider that these costs can be covered by the compensation granted if you win your claim, this initial price quickly becomes a small one in comparison.
What To Look For In Trucking Accidents Lawyers
When searching for a lawyer who specializes in truck accidents, it is important to find one who has the following:
- An understanding of truck and car laws and how they relate to each other on the road
- Experience with accidents similar to yours
- Accessibility for showing up in court if necessary
- While no two accidents are alike, it’s helpful for a lawyer to work on cases that resemble yours. When hiring a lawyer, ask about their experience dealing with cases just like yours. If you would visit the firm, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask them about their case history to have an idea if this lawyer is capable of representing you.
There are plenty of truck accidents every year. In 2017 it was reported by FMCSA that 450,000 truck accidents were reported that year.
The Cost of Hiring Trucking Accident Lawyer
The first thing to understand about hiring trucking accidents lawyers is that they will play a crucially important role for your case. Not only can they help relieve your stress during this difficult time, but they can also ensure that your case receives the attention and respect it deserves. Many of the most serious accidents involving commercial trucks are due to driver negligence. Your attorney will fight for compensation on your behalf.
Big trucking companies, or their insurance companies, have teams of lawyers at their call who will work hard to protect their client’s interests first and foremost. With truck accident lawyers by your side, you can be sure that everything possible will be done to help you receive financial compensation for your loss. Hiring an experienced attorney can also make all the difference when negotiating a settlement with the defense.
Attorney fees vary widely depending on the legal services you require but typically range between $25,000 and $60,000. Because this is such a large sum of money, you must be sure that you’re hiring the right attorney.
Truck Accident Claims And How Lawyers Can Help
When an injury occurs due to an accident, it is important that the victim understands their rights and what they can do to receive compensation for medical bills, lost income, property damage, etc. It’s also advisable to contact the insurance company as soon as possible after the accident. While most companies seem helpful on the surface, if you suspect them of wrongdoing or are worried about being scammed, a lawyer will be able to assist you in dealing with the insurance company so that your claim is handled appropriately.
Seeking Justice For Your Truck Accident
When searching for an accident lawyer, it is important to find one who specializes in truck accidents. They must have experienced cases just like yours. They will represent you in a court of law if necessary. Depending on the severity of your injuries, it may also be a good idea to hire a lawyer for more serious cases. Working with an attorney can ensure that you get the compensation you deserve for your truck accident.
What Are Reasons Why You Should Consider The Services Of a Truck Accident Lawyer?
Truck Accidents are complex
Many different parties are involved in most large truck accidents:
- The driver.
- The carrier they work for.
- Third-party companies that load and unload cargo onto the trucks.
- Rules and regulations vary from state to state about who is responsible when things go wrong on the road resulting in injury or death. Skilled trucking accidents lawyers will navigate these complicated rules and ensure victims’ compensation for their damages.
Trucking companies hire experienced lawyers
Insurance companies for trucking companies are notorious for fighting tooth and nail to avoid paying out the large settlements they owe to accident victims. Your lawyer will need to be just as tenacious, but they must also have experience dealing with logistics firms’ complicated insurance policies. If you’re not familiar with “tort” laws or how employment practices liability insurance works, it’s important to find a legal representative on top of these matters.
Big trucking corporations often have very deep pockets
There are many semi-trucks registered to transport goods across great expanses every day. That means there are a lot of trucks on the road at any given time, and it also means that if you’re injured in an accident with one of them, chances are your legal claim could yield a hefty financial award.
The insurance companies will try to settle quickly
Negotiating through an insurance company is never advisable because they typically offer low-ball settlement offers to save as much money as possible. Your trucking accident lawyer knows how to get you the best possible deal without needing to accept an insulting initial offer.
Hiring an attorney early allows evidence to be preserved
When victims file claims against trucking companies, they often find out that their employer has suddenly filed for bankruptcy or vanished completely. More than one trucker has been accused of committing a crime to avoid being sued. Skilled lawyers know how to prevent this from happening and gather evidence to build your case before it becomes too late for the trucking company to be held liable.
Other parties may be held liable
Regardless of whether you were hit by a poorly maintained rig or a careless driver, somebody made a mistake and hurt you as a result. There could be many other negligent parties involved in your accident that will have to answer for their wrongdoing. Your lawyer knows how to identify all responsible parties and make sure they’re forced to pay for what happened.
There may be more than one party at fault
There are so many different companies involved that it’s difficult to determine who was responsible in some cases. If you’re not sure who to blame or how to get compensation, a personal injury lawyer will help you sort out the situation and find the best solution for your case.
Your job may have been indirectly responsible
Truck drivers are subject to very long work hours with little time for rest, which is why fatigue plays such a significant role in many accidents. Employers must maintain certain safety standards while adhering to federal regulations; victims can hold them liable even when other parties share part of the blame if they fail to do so.
You could receive medical treatment
Victims don’t always realize that their injuries require medical attention beyond what insurance companies provide through standard health plans. The trucking company’s insurance may offer only a certain amount for medical care and recovery. You may need treatment like physical therapy or surgery to recover completely from the injuries you’ve suffered. Still, your injury lawyer knows how to make sure all of your expenses are covered.
Your legal representative will take charge
Carrying on with life can be challenging after an accident because every day is filled with painful reminders of what happened. It’s hard to feel like you’re back in control when dealing with medical treatments and paperwork, which is why most people hire trucking accidents lawyers to handle their claims. Lawyers know exactly what types of evidence they need and how to gather it; they also know all about insurance company procedures and require them to supply complete records in a timely fashion.
You’ll benefit from the expertise of a professional
Not everybody can file and negotiate trucking accident claims, which is why companies and their insurers tend not to respect statements that don’t come from professionals. Lawyers understand all of the details about how these cases work and how insurance policies operate; they know what types of evidence insurers need to be held accountable for your losses and even know where to find additional information when it’s needed.
Insurance companies may try to blame you
Whenever there’s an accident involving a commercial truck, there’s always somebody who will claim that it was the victim’s fault – no matter who was actually at fault. This can make negotiations extremely difficult, but your attorney knows exactly what needs to be done to counter these accusations.
Your attorney can serve as a guide
Regardless of whether you’re in the middle of negotiations or have already been awarded compensation, your lawyer is always available when you have questions about what to expect next or want advice on how to proceed. You can get back to focusing on your recovery and leave all of the legal work to somebody who has the knowledge and experience needed for success.
Trucking accidents lawyers know everything about this type of case because they specialize in it; they’ve dealt with many different types of injuries and conducted negotiations with insurance companies countless times before. Only experienced trucking accidents lawyers will know how much evidence needs to be collected, what steps need taking to get the compensation you deserve, and what types of questions to ask about your health and recovery. If you or somebody you know has been involved in this type of accident, don’t hesitate to take advantage of the compensation available to you – even if it wasn’t your fault.
