Do you need to hire a truck accident attorney?
Getting into any kind of automotive accident is stressful. When large trucks or 18-wheelers are involved, things can get even worse for accident victims since the size discrepancy between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles is so large. Read on to find out why it’s always a good idea for victims to consult a truck accident attorney.
Maximize chances of receiving fair compensation
All commercial truck drivers are required to carry comprehensive insurance policies, and the insurance companies are supposed to pay damages to accident victims when the policyholder gets into a crash and is deemed legally liable. Unfortunately, it’s very common for insurance agents to offer unfairly small compensation packages that will not cover accident victims’ hospital bills, let alone missed work and other damages. Before accepting any offer from an insurance company, head to yarianlaw.com to schedule a consultation with an attorney to make sure that the compensation package is fair and being offered in good faith.
Get help dealing with the complexities of truck accident liability
Not all car accident victims choose to work with attorneys, but truck accidents are different. The problem isn’t just that semi-trucks are so large but that there are far more parties that could be held liable. When two passenger cars get into an accident, one or both of the drivers are typically held responsible, but when professional truckers get into accidents, the potential defendants can include:
- Truck drivers
- Trucking companies
- Truck manufacturers
- The shipping company that loaded the truck’s cargo
- Government entities
- And others
Since most accident victims are not familiar with the many intricacies of determining legal liability, it’s always best to let an attorney handle all these kinds of complex scenarios. In most cases, accident victims don’t have to go to court if they don’t want to. Insurance companies are more likely to offer favorable compensation packages if they know that the victim has legal representation.
Build a compelling case
Even if an accident victim plans on taking the compensation package offered by an insurance company instead of going to court, building a compelling case is essential. Truck accident attorneys can collect evidence, investigate potential causes of the accident, obtain eyewitness statements or expert testimony, and gather documents to prove damages.
All of the evidence and analysis provided by lawyers is essential if the insurance company refuses to settle and the case goes to court. However, insurance companies may also be more likely to offer fair compensation packages if the representative thinks the accident victim’s case is compelling enough to convince a jury. Hiring a lawyer to build a case is the right call in either scenario.
Make sure all damages are covered
Accident victims usually realize that the medical bills incurred as a result of the crash should be covered by the liable party. What not all drivers realize is that they may also qualify for other economic and non-economic awards depending on what type of losses were suffered. If property damage occurred, the driver lost wages, or there was undue pain and suffering inflicted on the accident victim, all of those factors could influence the case.
Don’t wait to hire an attorney
The best time to hire a truck accident attorney is as soon as reasonably possible after the crash occurs. An accident victim’s first priority should be to seek required medical attention. After that, though, it’s time to call a lawyer.