As the trucking industry expands, the number of large trucks on our roadways has gone up significantly. A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh up to eighty thousand pounds. These huge machines are controlled by drivers who are often distracted or exhausted from trying to meet increasingly difficult delivery schedules. Even a minor collision during a tractor trailer accident can be deadly for those in a smaller vehicle. The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute estimates that one out of every eight traffic fatalities involves a truck.
If you have suffered truck accident injuries during a collision with an 18-wheeler, then you know the trauma of hitting something of that magnitude. Unfortunately, most insurance claims filed against trucking companies are met with great resistance. Insurance claims adjustors from a trucking company often go immediately to an accident site to talk to victims and try to manipulate evidence. The trucking company will have an entire army of lawyers in the courtroom, doing everything they possibly can to prevent you from getting the compensation you so desperately need. After all, any claim they have to pay will go on their permanent commercial record, and they have to look out for their own bottom line.
In order to get the money you need for medical bills and the like, you will need the help of a team of very skilled and experienced truck accident lawyers. When you are trying to maneuver around the many obstacles on your way to receiving compensation from the insurance company, your best option is a truck crash attorney at Rutter Mills. With the Rutter Mills tractor trailer accident attorneys on your side, you can stand up to major trucking companies and take what you need for a better life.
Your actions immediately after a big-rig collision can determine your chances of receiving adequate compensation from an insurance agency. After you have stopped, taken care of any injuries, and gotten everyone to safety, following these basic guidelines can save you major headaches when you go to file your claim.
• Call the police immediately. Even if it is just a minor accident and no one has any major injuries, the police will still need to file a report. Cooperate fully with their investigation, but do not admit fault or accuse another driver of fault. Anything you say at this point could be used to dismiss your claim with the insurance company.
• Be sure to get the names and contact information of any witnesses around. They may be able to provide evidence in the case of a dispute. Without contact information, it may be impossible to find these witnesses again when you need them.
• Take pictures of the scene if possible. Important evidence, like skid marks, may be washed away soon after an accident and pictures may be your only way of proving the details.
• DO NOT speak with a claims adjustor from the trucking company’s insurance agency. The adjustor’s only role is to limit the trucking company’s level of responsibility. Often, the adjustor will try to get you to admit to fault or distraction, to sign a medical waiver and to agree not contact a tractor trailer accident lawyer. Anything you say to this person can be counted against you when you try to file a claim.
• Call your personal injury attorney as soon as possible. The experienced truck accident lawyers of Rutter Mills will help you file your claim to the insurance company, see to the details, negotiate your recovery, and if all else fails, file and try your lawsuit in the proper court. In order for claims to be processed, most insurance companies require that you notify them immediately in the case of a truck accident. Do not accept a claims adjuster’s offer until you have consulted with a professional truck accident lawyer.
• Have the damage to your car evaluated by a licensed auto mechanic. Many insurance companies require you to have your car repaired at a specific shop, but you are absolutely within your rights to get a second opinion from a mechanic you trust.
• Visit a doctor and get a written catalogue of your truck accident injuries. Because injuries heal and marks fade, it is important to do this as soon as possible, even if your injuries are only minor. Many trucking companies will refuse to pay for medical expenses initially, so you may have to report these injuries to your own insurance company until the Rutter Mills truck accident injury attorneys can secure you a settlement that covers your medical expenses.
• In most states, truck crash forms have to be filed with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles within a limited period of time after an accident. Failure to do so may result in fines or other penalties.
All of this may seem like a lot, but the dedicated truck accident injury attorneys at Rutter Mills have the knowledge and the experience to help you through it all. With Rutter Mills’ truck collision lawyers in Roanoke and Hampton Roads on your team, the rest will be taken care of. We are dedicated to helping you get what you are entitled to after a truck crash. Contact the law firm of Rutter Mills—where personal injuries get personal attention.