Here are the top 5 reasons to hire a truck accident lawyer if you are in the unfortunate circumstance of getting injured in a truck accident. It’s might not seem common, but it’s something that happens way more often than what it seems. For 2019, the Texas Department of Transportation reported over 6,300 wrecks involving commercial motor vehicles just in Harris County alone. With the Port of Houston being one of the largest ports in the world, this means that there is always a truck on the road and a higher risk of truck accidents than most places.
While it might be tempting to go ahead and settle the case immediately, this isn’t ever going to be the best way to go about things. As a highly experienced truck accident lawyer, I felt obligated to explain why you should hire a truck accident lawyer instead of dealing with things yourself.
1. 18-Wheeler Insurance Policies Tend to Be More Complex
Not only do truck drivers carry their own insurance, but trucking companies do as well. On top of that, the truck itself could even have its own insurance coverage, and the cargo that it’s hauling can very well have its own insurance policy as well. These insurance coverage issues are important when injured in an 18-wheeler accident.
Dealing with insurance companies is hard enough, but when you have multiple insurance companies that must be dealt with it can seem to be almost impossible. Especially if you try to file the insurance claims yourself as you will be buried in all kinds of paperwork.
Every insurance company that’s involved when a truck accident happens will try to do everything in their power to minimize the amount that is paid out or even try to avoid paying anything out at all. They simply have their best interest at heart, no matter how it may affect you in the long run. Not to mention, they could even slow down the process significantly.
Instead of allowing yourself to become an insurance company’s next victim, retaining a truck accident lawyer will make sure that you have a legal team fighting in your corner. While you focus on other things, your legal team can make sure they keep the ball rolling to get the compensation you deserve or even reach a settlement offer for the case without court.
2. DO NOT Get Lowballed; Get the Settlement You Deserve
One of the tactics used by insurance companies within the trucking industry is to not make their best offer on the case at first, nor will they do so on the second or third time. Think of it as their way to bulldog you out of any opportunities that you might have had in the case.
This is one big reason why you will want to have a skilled personal injury attorney on your side regardless. Especially since it’s just one of the many tactics that insurance companies within the trucking industry have been known to use. It’s a cruel world and you start to see how cruel it is when you’ve found yourself in a tough spot and start holding those responsible accountable for their actions and the part they played in the truck accident.
If you hire a truck accident lawyer, they will be able to stop insurance companies in their tracks and work to getting you the compensation that you’re rightfully entitled to. This is by far a lot better than allowing yourself to be seen as a vulnerable party that insurance companies can try to take advantage of in order to preserve their best interests.
3. Hold the At-Fault Party Responsible for The Truck Accident
Any time that an 18-wheeler truck accident occurs, the liability doesn’t always rest solely on the shoulders of the truck driver that you got in a wreck with. There are other parties such as semi-truck parts manufacturers and trucking companies that may also be liable.
To accomplish this, hiring legal counsel immediately after a semi-truck accident helps to preserve any evidence that could play a big role when it comes to winning your case. A skilled personal injury attorney can place a hold on the truck you got in an accident with, look at the logbooks to determine the driving hours of the truck driver, and look into the truck’s maintenance records to gather all of the needed evidence to build a strong case.
The bottom line is that you want to involve all the responsible parties before the lawsuit makes it to court and when the case finds itself before a judge. It might not be clear who these parties may be at first, but at the same time, your attorney can help you discover them and ensure that they’re required to play their part in the legal process.
4. Dealing with Insurance Companies Takes an Acquired Skill
Simply because this isn’t their first truck accident case, and they know how to try to get out of the situation while they think that they have a chance to do so. It might seem like the odds are stacked against you at times, but this is where a strong legal strategy will help you out.
When it comes to dealing with insurance companies, no textbook or class will truly give you the knowledge you need to be the most effective. This is where hiring a truck accident lawyer who has handled many cases over their career fills the void. They will have the direct experience that is needed to make insurance companies realize there will be no shortcuts.
By hiring an 18-wheeler accident lawyer, you will be able to have the final say over any settlement offer that either of the opposing parties may present you with. There is no need for you to have to take part in the negotiations either when you have a lawyer. It’s what helps truck accident victims focus on recovering instead of stressing over a lawsuit.
5. Have Legal Counsel in Your Corner Ready to Fight
Truck accident lawsuits can get pretty rough because you have insurance companies trying to reduce their liability, trucking companies trying not to get stuck with being at fault for the accident, and many other surprises that can come to the surface.
By retaining a truck accident attorney, you will be making sure that if any of this happens at any time, it’s something that will be monitored. Not ignored.
Truck accidents do happen, but I will stand with you throughout the legal process.
This is probably why I’ve been blessed with great reviews that have led to my truck accident law firm to obtaining and keeping 5-star ratings not only on Google but Avvo and Facebook as well. Being there for my clients is the only approach I embrace and ever will.
With over 18 years of experience being a truck accident lawyer, I know that I can provide you with the representation you need to get the best outcome possible. There is simply nothing that I can’t work through and my focus will be on you and your needs the entire time. Call my office at (713) 572-6446 or use my secure contact page on this website to set up your free truck accident consultation.
