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.
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:
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.
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.
Depending on the circumstances, you might not just be filing a claim against the trucking company. You might also pursue damages against:
Legal professionals can help manage the process and ensure you take action against all relevant parties.
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.
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:
They will conduct their own investigations and assemble evidence on your behalf to help you file the right motions and make a strong case.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Image credit: Vitpho / Shutterstock
Domestic violence family law cases affect families in deeply personal ways, often leaving those involved…
Knowing your options and the legal process, including how to fight a traffic ticket or…
Restraining orders and no-contact orders share several similarities and impacts, but they operate very differently…
Personal injury cases are often complex, requiring medical or scientific evidence that can be difficult…
Slip and fall accidents can be devastating, often resulting in serious injuries and long-term consequences,…
Immigration enforcement actions can be intimidating. You may not know what to do if ICE…