Truck accidents often involve complexities not present in standard car accident claims. Several parties could be held accountable, such as the driver and their employer, the business that looks after the truck and its components, and the person shipping the goods. Your financial recovery can be significantly enhanced by working with an experienced attorney. Your attorney understands the full extent of your losses and will negotiate with the insurance companies using strategic leverage points to get you maximum compensation.
Gather Evidence
When a truck accident occurs, it often involves multiple factors. Identifying all parties liable for your injuries and property damage is critical to maximizing the money you could receive in a settlement. It may include trucking companies, vehicle manufacturers, shipping companies, and more. A skilled Houston trucking accident attorney will know how to request the appropriate information from each entity.
Additionally, your lawyer will collect evidence to support your claim. It might include witness statements, medical records, police reports, the truck’s Event Data Recorder (EDR), and more. Obtaining immediate medical attention following a crash is crucial, even if you appear fine. Insurance companies use delays in treatment to question the severity of your injuries, which can lower a settlement offer or prevent you from receiving compensation altogether. Your attorney will work to ensure all of your injury-related expenses are accounted for in the final settlement. It includes lost wages, future earning potential, and more.
Determine the Fault
Several parties could be liable for your crash, including the truck driver. This shipping company loaded the freight, the truck manufacturer built the semi and its components, and the maintenance companies worked on the truck. Unsecured or unevenly distributed loads cause many truck crashes. These issues may be attributed to the truck driver improperly loading the cargo, the shipping company failing to load and secure the cargo properly, or the truck manufacturer failing to follow appropriate maintenance schedules.
The most effective way to build a strong case for determining fault is by gathering evidence to support your claim. It will probably contain the official police report, witness statements, images and video from the collision scene, medical bills, repair estimates, and other pertinent records. A strong case will also feature expert witnesses who provide insight into the events of your crash. Depending on your situation, these experts might be accident reconstruction and skid mark specialists, medical professionals, or industry experts.
Prepare for Trial
A well-prepared case can make all the difference in a verdict. The goal is to ensure the insurance company understands how serious your injuries are, including your past and future damages. It includes your medical expenses, loss of earnings, and pain and suffering. If the defendant’s actions were particularly heinous or egregiously negligent, it might also include punitive damages.
In addition to establishing the full extent of your injury, it is necessary to uncover all liable parties. While you might assume the at-fault truck driver owes you compensation, additional liable parties may be, such as the trucking company or truck manufacturer. It can increase your overall settlement amount significantly. It can also help you avoid using your insurance, which often has lower limits than a commercial policy.
Negotiate with the Insurance Company
For victims of truck accidents, there is often a great deal at stake in the case. A fair settlement can cover medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and more. Regretfully, you might need to be made aware of the total value of your claim, and insurance companies and other responsible parties might try to take advantage of that. An attorney can help you comprehensively calculate the value of your damages and losses, including past and future expenses. Then, they can use this information to support your claim during negotiations with the insurance company.
Additionally, complicated liability matters can be helped by a lawyer. The driver (including independent contractors), the trucking company, the shippers or manufacturers of the materials being hauled, and their employer may all be held accountable in a collision involving a large commercial truck. Moreover, each of these parties may be represented by different insurance providers. A lawyer can effectively negotiate with each party to secure a fair settlement offer.
