Expensive Mistakes to Avoid During Your Truck Accident Case

Expensive Mistakes to Avoid During Your Truck Accident Case

At Jones Law Group, we know just how horrific the results of a truck accident can be. Truck drivers violate federal regulations on a regular basis, and often cause terrible collisions due to their negligence. Unfortunately, though, we’ve also seen victims make mistakes. Not ones that contribute to an accident, but errors that damage their case, often beyond repair.

If you speak with one of our skilled truck accident attorneys, you can avoid the same fate. We will be with you every step of the way, and do everything we possibly can to help you recover the damages you’ve suffered due to someone else’s negligence. Use our online contact form or call (727) 571-1333 for a free, no obligation review of your case.

The following is a quick look at just a few of the ways that truck accident victims can ruin their chances at obtaining maximum compensation for their suffering. Please don’t let any of these issues happen to you. Contact the Jones Law Group as soon as you can.

Not Contacting the Police

This is one of the biggest mistakes any accident victim can make. When someone is hurt due to a truck driver’s negligence, the first thing they should do is call 911. The dispatcher will not only send medical help, but they will also send police officers to the scene as well. The officers will conduct an investigation that could be incredibly important to your case.

Not only will the police report that comes from that investigation give the officer’s opinion of the cause of the accident, it will also contain other types of vital information as well. This includes the contact information for all drivers involved in the wreck, as well as that of any eyewitnesses who might have seen what happened. If police aren’t summoned to the scene, it would make it much easier for the at-fault driver’s insurance company to claim that you bear some responsibility for the collision.

Failing to Seek Immediate Medical Treatment

Insurance companies also love it when accident victims don’t seek medical help as soon as they can. This gives them the opening they need to say you don’t deserve as much money as you’re demanding, because you’re not as seriously hurt as you claim.

But getting medical attention right away is about much more than just winning your case. It will also help protect your health. In the immediate aftermath of this kind of accident, an accident victim will often have an incredible amount of adrenaline coursing through their body. This can mask severe – possibly even catastrophic – injuries. If you don’t see a medical professional as soon as you can, that could put your health at significant risk.

Not Taking Pictures at the Scene

A truck accident is obviously a terrifying event, one that can make it nearly impossible for an injury victim to think clearly. However, when they fail to take pictures of the accident scene, they miss the chance to record critically important evidence. If their physical condition allows, and it’s safe to do so, victims should photograph the damage to vehicles, skid marks, damage to road signs, and, if possible, even their own injuries.

Speaking to Anyone Other Than Your Lawyer About What Happened

We’ve seen some instances where injury victims – who were hurt through no fault of their own – start to talk about what happened with family members and friends. Some will even go so far as to discuss the details of the accident on social media.

None of this is a good idea.

A truck accident case involves incredibly high stakes, with insurance policies of $1 million or more often on the line. Since these kinds of accidents often lead to severe injuries, victims will often be eligible for a lot of money. The liable parties in your case, as well as their insurance providers, are going to do everything they can do to avoid having to pay.

Since there’s so much money at stake, insurance companies will not be above talking to a victim’s close relatives and dear friends. They’ll scour the victim’s social media sites. They do this in order to find even the tiniest shred of evidence that could show the victim assumes at least some responsibility for the wreck.

This is one of the many reasons why you should contact an attorney immediately. Your attorney will advise you not to discuss the case with anyone – no matter how much you trust them. They will definitely recommend that you don’t mention the accident at all on your social media feeds. Always remember that an insurance company will use anything you say against you – and that could wind up costing you tens of thousands of dollars.

Underestimating Insurance Companies and Their Tactics

One of the biggest differences between a truck accident and car accident is the insurance policies that cover these vehicles. As you just learned, trucking policies can easily reach into seven digits – so you better believe the insurance company is going to defend that policy aggressively.

They will assign incredibly talented professionals known as adjusters to your case. More than likely, one of them will try to give you a call, or might even visit your home or hospital room. They’ll act very sympathetic, like they’re really concerned for your welfare.

Don’t buy the act. All that adjuster wants is for you to make even a tiny slip-up, one that could potentially ruin your case. They might ask misleading questions in an effort for you to accept either part or all of the blame.

Refusing to Hire a Truck Accident Personal Injury Attorney

But an attorney can shield you from the harassment of an insurance company. A strong legal representative can also perform a detailed investigation of your accident, uncovering the evidence it takes to make your case its strongest. Your attorney can also call on experts, such as accident reconstruction specialists, to make your case even stronger.

The Jones Law Group can do all of this for you and more. Schedule a free consultation by contacting us online or calling (727) 571-1333.