Imagine this scenario, you’ve been hurt in a trucking accident and face thousands of dollars in medical bills and lost income. If you don’t know how to handle everything involved with a truck accident case, you might be looking at years of legal work. If you’re lucky, the courts will side with you quickly. But if not, there’s still a long way to go; collecting evidence, dealing with insurance companies, and even proving your injuries were caused by the truck in the first place.
Count on a truck accident lawyer to help you whenever you are involved in a truck accident. Dealing with truck accidents requires knowledge that most laypeople don’t have. Find more information in this article on the role of a truck accident lawyer.
Reviews the Results of the Truck Accident and Any Criminal ChargesÂ
The information they gather will determine whether or not you have a case. If you do, the lawyer will then proceed with your case. If not, they’ll let you know that as well. To proceed with your case, they must have gathered enough information about what happened on the day of the accident. They need to know if there were any witnesses and who those witnesses are? They also need access to police reports or other documents relating to the incident.
A truck accident lawyer reviews all of this information before deciding whether or not they can help you with your case. Once they’ve determined whether or not it’s worth pursuing, they’ll begin working on gathering more evidence and building their case against whoever was responsible for causing your injuries or damage to property as a result of their negligence (in some cases).
Conducts ResearchÂ
Truck maintenance is a critical part of the accident investigation process. Accident attorneys need to look at all available evidence, including inspection history and maintenance records, to determine whether there was any failure in truck maintenance that may have contributed to an accident.
An attorney needs to investigate if there were violations of federal regulations by the driver or employer that caused the accident. For example, suppose a driver failed to follow hours-of-service regulations or violated other rules designed to protect public safety (such as requirements for using speed limiters). In that case, this could be grounds for a lawsuit against either or both parties.
Looks for Expert Witnesses to TestifyÂ
Expert witnesses are critical to a successful truck accident case. A truck accident attorney uses expert witnesses to determine the cause of the accident, the extent of the injuries, and future medical costs. Expert witnesses can also help determine vehicle speed, actions of other drivers, and road conditions at the time of your collision.
Consult with Medical ExpertsÂ
If you are suffering from the after-effects of a truck accident, it is essential to find the right medical experts to help you understand what these injuries mean for your future. Doctors, surgeons, and other healthcare providers can provide insight into how long-term costs will affect your life and what treatment options to manage them. The medical reports will help in determining the amount of compensation.
Speak with Insurance Companies to Negotiate a Settlement
You need to make sure that you have a lawyer on your side who will fight for the compensation you are entitled to. Negotiating with insurance companies is complicated and takes years, so you must have someone looking out for your best interests. Your truck accident attorney should negotiate with the insurance company to ensure that they cover medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and more.
Your lawyer will also help protect against lowball offers from companies that try to take advantage of their customers after an accident. It may mean asking for more money than what is offered immediately to offset future medical costs associated with treatment or rehabilitation following an accident involving a large vehicle like a semi-truck or dump truck.
If possible, try not to talk directly with anyone from the insurance company without consulting with a lawyer first—and even then, make sure they’re around when discussing settlements to ensure there isn’t room for mistakes later down the road.
Truck accidents can change your life forever. The injuries you sustain may be life-altering, and you could face thousands of dollars in medical bills. Even worse, your family might not receive the compensation they deserve for caregiving or loss of companionship if you pass away from your injuries. It would help if you hired an attorney who has the knowledge and experience to fight for the highest possible settlement under the law so that you can rebuild your life comfortably after a truck accident.
