How To Maximize Truck Accident Injury Compensation
Thoroughly documenting the crash and your injuries before anyone can devalue your claim is critical to maximizing truck accident compensation. The impact of a semitruck collision, especially compared to a typical car crash, can cause life-changing injuries for you and introduce serious financial and reputational risks for the freight company. The driver and their employer will find a lawyer fast and hide behind their insurers to try to avoid responsibility for the crash, even if it leaves you out of luck.
Instead of relying on the insurance adjuster’s guesswork or waiting for the trucking company to take ownership, safeguard your right to full compensation by gathering evidence, documenting your injuries, and hiring a truck accident litigator. Read on to see how these actions make a difference in securing a fair personal injury award.
Report the Accident Immediately
Most trucking accidents are preventable, and some situations are the result of extreme negligence, which can call for steeper restitution. When negligence is obvious, the driver will have a difficult time escaping responsibility and leaving you without compensation.
Truckers are legally obligated to report crashes. Thankfully, that documentation also acts as evidence to support your claim. (If they don’t report the accident, call 911 and alert the authorities.) Police and commercial vehicle inspectors will evaluate the scene and identify trucking violations that caused the crash, such as hauling a hazardous load without the proper license or driving while impaired. With these on record, you’ll face fewer liability challenges and barriers to recouping your losses.
Seek Prompt Medical Attention
Seeing a physician as soon as possible after a crash with a semitruck ensures your injuries are officially recorded and that any harm masked by shock or other factors is discovered, treated, and documented. Getting your condition on record prevents the opposition from blaming another event for your injury. Physician exams also tie the impact of the crash to the physical effects you’re experiencing, proving the accident likely caused your harm.
Document Everything
Negotiating a truck accident lawsuit settlement requires thorough preparation, which begins with medical documentation, witness statements, and financial statements for your claim. Consider starting a health journal to record the impact of the accident on your daily life, including tracking your prognoses, appointments, and evaluations. When you have substantial proof of the physical, emotional, and financial repercussions of the accident, you’re better positioned to illustrate your points and maximize your compensation.
Follow Doctors’ Orders
Abiding by doctors’ orders after a trucking accident is critical to maximize your compensation. Attend all scheduled appointments, take all prescribed medications as directed, and follow treatment plans, including rehabilitation. Failing to do as you’re instructed may allow the insurance company to argue that your injuries are not severe or that you’re not committed to recovery and therefore do not need to be compensated for future treatment.
Be Patient and Persistent
Filing a claim for truck accident compensation can be a long, arduous process. Remaining patient is important for your mental health, and an even temperament provides the resolve you need to refuse an inadequate offer and sell your claim short.
Generally, commercial truckers in North Carolina must carry a minimum of $750,000 in liability insurance, but the maximum you should expect won’t be anywhere near that. The actual amount you’ll be awarded depends on how the insurance company values your claim and whether you’re forced to file a truck accident lawsuit to achieve an adequate settlement.
That’s where persistence comes in. The insurance provider could be trying to outlast you, so you’ll accept a low offer just to have the case closed. You don’t want that to happen, nor should you let the claim linger so long that you miss important filing deadlines. If you need assistance pressing the insurance company to keep your case moving, ask an attorney to follow up with them on your behalf. Inquiries from legal representatives tend to get faster responses.
Safeguard Your Claim
Posting on social media about the crash, sharing health details with those outside your immediate family, and publicly discussing confidential truck accident settlement terms jeopardizes your recovery. You must proactively safeguard your interests by avoiding oversharing on social media and in person. If you aren’t certain whether an action could impact your claim, ask an attorney to provide a list of post-accident do’s and don’ts.
Get Expert Opinions
While your 18-wheeler truck accident attorney is one expert you should lean on following a devastating crash, this isn’t the only person who can back your claim. Reliable witnesses and specialists can illustrate the impact the accident made (and will continue to make) on your life, helping to maximize your truck accident compensation. Here are some examples of experts who may opine on your case:
- Life care plan experts, medical doctors, a therapist, and other health specialists will explain treatments and prognoses to appropriately value a traumatic brain injury or other physical or emotional impact.
- Your employer or superiors can testify to your diminished earning capacity or inability to develop professionally due to physical or mental injuries.
- A crash reconstructionist or police officer can offer details about the crash site, including traffic markers, signals, and roadway laws, to show how the trucker’s negligence contributed to or caused the crash.
Hire an Experienced Trucking Accident Attorney
There are several reasons to hire a truck accident attorney, but helping to maximize your compensation is one benefit that makes a big difference in your healing journey. When lawyers assist with evidence preservation and scene reconstruction, the trucker and their employer run out of ways to refute their roles in the crash.
You have options to pursue truck accident compensation, from insurance claims to lawsuits, and attorneys can evaluate all aspects of your situation to help you determine the best path forward and the amount you’re owed. If a fatal truck accident took the life of a loved one, you may also be eligible to file for wrongful death compensation. While the loss of a loved one may seem impossible to quantify, lawyers can calculate associated current and future losses, so truck accident lawsuit settlements consider even the toughest consequences.
When the attorneys at Miller Law Group have your back, you won’t need to worry about someone minimizing your experience or your compensation. Let us handle your truck accident negotiations and settlement while you focus on healing. If you’ve been struck by a box truck, commercial carrier, or 18-wheeler, contact our truck accident attorneys to discuss your legal options.