While every vehicle accident has the potential to cause serious injuries, the risk is far greater with truck accidents. Truck drivers are injured or killed on occasion, but in most accidents, occupants of passenger vehicles bear the brunt of the injuries.
That’s why it’s so important to reach out to a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible after your crash. In fact, your entire claim could hinge on how quickly you bring an attorney in to help. Call The Stein Firm at 770-824-3107 to schedule your free case evaluation now.
The Complexity of Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are far more complex than other types of vehicle accidents, which is the main reason you should talk to an attorney as soon as possible. A fully-loaded big rig weighs dozens of times more than a standard passenger vehicle and is several times longer than a passenger vehicle. It is capable of doing far more damage than a passenger vehicle, which makes your accident claim more serious.
Multiple parties are involved in truck accident claims, further complicating your situation. In addition to the truck driver themselves, your case will involve their employer, both parties’ insurance companies, the company that loaded the cargo, and possibly the owner of the cargo.
Additional Legal Factors
There are also several legal issues that ramp up the complexity of truck accidents. To start, trucks have much larger insurance policies than vehicles. This is directly related to the greater amount of damage they can cause, including bodily harm, property damage, and loss of cargo. As a result, insurance companies fight even harder to keep that money in their pockets.
Second, truck driving is a tightly regulated field. Drivers have hours-of-service limitations, including those that dictate how long they can drive, how long they can drive before taking a break, and how many hours they can work in a set period of days.
Violating these regulations can mean big fines, and it can also strengthen an accident victim’s case. Furthermore, trucking companies have certain obligations regarding their hiring practices, truck maintenance, and keeping drivers within hours-of-service limits. Any violations could be useful in your personal injury claim, and you need an attorney who can explore all of these avenues.
A Lot is at Stake
After an accident, you’ll likely face a totaled car, time away from work, and serious injuries. No matter how much you think it will all cost, you’re likely guessing too low—and the insurance company is counting on that. They know that many victims live paycheck to paycheck, which forces them to accept an early settlement.
Accepting an early settlement offer from the trucking company could leave you without enough money to pay your medical bills, much less replace lost income or replace your vehicle. Unfortunately, once you accept the settlement, you’re almost guaranteed to have no further options for additional compensation.
Don’t Risk Your Settlement
If you’re focused on getting maximum compensation for your truck accident injuries, talking to an attorney should be your top priority. The trucking company has plenty of legal assistance helping them through each crash—you deserve someone whose only priority is your well-being.
Why is it important to get an attorney involved early? The longer you go without a lawyer, the more likely you are to risk your own claim. The insurance company will likely be relentless in its efforts to contact you, and every time you talk to them, you run the risk of telling them something they can use against you.
You may offer them access to your medical records, bring up a preexisting injury, or admit that fault may be shared. When you have a lawyer fighting for you, you can avoid these common errors.
Start Your Truck Accident Claim with The Stein Firm
The team at The Stein Firm is here to support you as you pursue full and fair compensation. A truck accident can leave you physically and financially devastated, but you don’t have to go through this alone. Call us at 770-824-3107 or fill out our online contact form to set up a consultation now.
