Truck Accident Attorney
Truck accidents aren’t as common as car accidents, but they are deadly. In 2019, over 159,000 people were injured in accidents involving large trucks.
A large truck can weigh 20 times more than a standard passenger vehicle. Being involved in this type of accident often leads to devastating injuries or death.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a large truck, you may be wondering what to do next and if you should pursue compensation. We can help!
Here are 5 signs it’s time to hire a truck accident attorney.
1. You Have a Serious Injury
If you sustained an injury at no fault of your own, you have rights. The sheer size and weight of large trucks lead to serious crashes. These types of accidents often result in serious injuries.
If you’re a victim of a truck accident, choosing an attorney who has experience with truck accident cases is crucial.
Some common truck accident injuries include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Brain injuries
- Burn injuries
- Broken bones
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of limbs
Unfortunately, catastrophic injuries are common in truck accidents. Your lawyer will evaluate your injuries and the evidence in your case to determine the compensation you deserve.
It’s difficult to pursue a truck accident case on your own. You should hire an experienced truck accident attorney who can help you get compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and emotional pain and suffering.
2. The Insurance Company Doesn’t Offer Enough Compensation
Following an accident, the insurance company begins to gather information from the drivers, police reports, and witnesses. Then, they decide who’s at fault and how much compensation is appropriate.
They send a letter offering the amount they deem appropriate. If you agree and sign, you forfeit your right to file a lawsuit.
Even if the amount of compensation for injuries seems like a lot to you, it may not be enough. That’s why you should consult a truck accident attorney before signing anything.
Some accident injuries may not be present immediately following a crash. You should never settle on an amount until you fully evaluate the extent of your injuries and all of your losses.
3. Saying the Wrong Thing to the Insurance Company
When you’ve been involved in a serious truck accident, the insurance company may begin calling right away. They may want to know more details about the accident.
This can add to the stress you’re already experiencing as you try to recover from your injuries. You may worry about saying the wrong thing and hurting your truck accident claim.
The insurance adjuster may try to lead you to take some of the blame for the accident or settle for less than you deserve. If you have a truck accident lawyer working on your behalf, you don’t have to say anything.
They can do the talking for you and take some of that stress off your plate. A good truck accident attorney will fight for your rights and all the compensation you deserve.
4. There May Be More to the Story
You have a right to seek compensation from the negligent party that caused your accident. You need to show they had a duty of care not to put others in danger, and they breached this duty.
This may mean a trucking company breached a duty of care by failing to provide its drivers with proper training. It could mean the company made their workers drive longer than allowed by state and federal law.
The company may have failed to conduct employee background checks that would have revealed a history of driving citations or substance abuse. The trucking company is the obvious defendant, but there may be others who are liable.
If the issue is a defective product, the manufacturer may be to blame. If the accident was due to unsafe road conditions, the city could be liable. There can be more than one defendant in an accident case.
A truck accident attorney can help you determine who is liable for your injuries and decide whether you should pursue compensation for injuries.
5. You Suffered Non-Economic Damages
The insurance company may offer you enough compensation to pay your medical bills. But do not sign.
Consider all the losses you’ve suffered as a result of your accident. Your losses may be much bigger than your medical bills, even if those bills are extremely high.
If you have been out of work or will be in the future, you may be entitled to recover damages for lost income. If your accident has caused emotional trauma, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering.
If you cannot work in the same job or industry any longer, you may be able to pursue compensation for job training.
A truck accident can be physically and emotionally devastating. Speak to a truck accident lawyer to make sure you’re fighting for all the compensation you deserve.
Hire a Truck Accident Attorney
The sheer size and power of large trucks can lead to devastating crashes. Victims are often left with serious injuries and emotional suffering.
You don’t have to take the first settlement the insurance company offers. And you don’t have to go it alone.
If you’ve suffered a serious injury in a large truck accident due to negligence, you have the legal right to file a claim. At Greenleaf Law Group, we know how stressful the aftermath of a serious accident can be.
Our Whittier law firm works tirelessly to recover fair compensation for all of our clients. If you’re ready to hire a truck accident attorney, we’d love to talk with you and offer our advice on the next best steps.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
