In the aftermath of a semi-truck accident, you must take immediate legal action. Semi-truck accidents are often deadly and can cause serious harm to you, your passengers, and your property—they are also far more complex.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer can help during every step of the process. Learn more about what a truck accident lawyer does, why you need a truck accident lawyer, and how to get legal support immediately.
Why Hire an Attorney for a Semi-Truck Accident?
At Feldman & Lee PS, we have years of experience helping people pursue legal cases after a semi-truck accident. Simply filing an insurance claim won’t give you the protections and reimbursement you need.
A trucker’s livelihood depends on their clean driving records. Insurance premiums for 18-wheelers are already high, and actuaries/trucking companies don’t want to take on risk by insuring a bad driver. When a semi-truck is involved in an accident, even if a cop writes the trucker a ticket, they will ‘deny, deny, deny’ to preserve their livelihood and have the backing of their insurance company and trucking company.
Victims may be spun around in circles without knowing it and evidence like dash cam footage might get destroyed without a preservation letter requiring the trucking company to keep it. Absent litigation, a trucking company isn’t required to provide video evidence to victims, which can prevent them from being able to present valuable evidence to support their case. In some cases, victims may not be aware that they should note the presence of a dashcam and that trucking companies may deny the presence of a dashcam despite the truth. Instead, a lawyer can help you gather evidence, protect your rights, and stop the other side from taking advantage of you. How can a truck accident lawyer help? Here are four key avenues:
Trucking Companies Often Have Larger Budgets
When you sue after a truck accident, you’re not suing the individual truck driver; you often are serving the trucking company and carrier they work for. However, large trucking and freight companies have legal teams, a large legal budget, and an entrenched infrastructure for fighting back against your claim or convincing you to accept a settlement that is too small. Hiring a lawyer can help you maintain your legal rights and fight against these large resources.
Retainment of Evidence
Lawyers understand the legal process surrounding lawsuits and claims. A spoliation letter is essential in semi-truck accidents to prevent any evidence from being destroyed, and a legal representative can ensure that one is sent in time.
We can help you gather evidence, properly document the incident and your injuries, and present that information correctly during filings and court proceedings. Handling this process alone significantly increases the risk of a costly mistake.
Involvement of Multiple Parties
Depending on the circumstances, you might not just be filing a claim against the trucking company. You might also pursue damages against:
- The driver: If they’re an independent owner-operator
- The loading company or freight owner: If the incident involved improper loading at the start of the driver’s journey
- The city: If poor infrastructure contributed to the incident
Legal professionals can help manage the process and ensure you take action against all relevant parties.
Complex Federal Regulations
Numerous state and federal regulations surround semi-truck accident cases. This means you’re facing strict documentation requirements, tight deadlines for filing, taking the following steps, and establishing your case. A lawyer can help you navigate the regulations and detailed requirements.
What a Truck Accident Lawyer Can Do
The importance of a personal injury lawyer is evident, but what does a truck accident lawyer do, exactly? Here are some actions you should expect your lawyer to take:
Assist With Investigating the Accident
They will conduct their own investigations and assemble evidence on your behalf to help you file the right motions and make a strong case.
Accurately Calculate Damages
Part of your attorney’s job will be to calculate the damages done to you and provide evidence to substantiate their numbers. This information can then be used in court or for a fair settlement.
Speak to Insurance Companies
When you’re in a semi-truck accident, the best practice is to not speak to your insurance company—and certainly not to the other side’s insurance company. A lawyer will represent you in all conversations and negotiations. This protects you from accidentally saying the wrong thing to people trained to minimize expenses and liability at your expense.
Provide Representation in Court
If your semi-truck accident case makes it to court, your attorney will represent you. They will argue on behalf, present evidence, and complete documentation and legal paperwork.
Immediate Steps to Take After a Semi-Truck Accident
As soon as you safely can after a semi-truck accident, hire an attorney. They can take immediate steps to protect your legal rights by representing you to your insurance company, the truck driver and trucking company, and their insurance providers or legal representatives. Your own lawyer can also help you document injuries and gather evidence while you recover.
The Legal Representation You Deserve
At Feldman & Lee PS, we’re committed to representing our clients after semi-truck accidents. We’re here to provide robust legal support from start to finish. Contact us today for an initial consultation and next steps.
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