Expensive Mistakes to Avoid During Your Truck Accident Case

Expensive Mistakes to Avoid During Your Truck Accident Case

Rely on a trustworthy personal injury attorney from Jones Law Group to avoid making expensive mistakes during your truck accident case.

Summary

• Always report a truck accident to the police to ensure an official investigation and report. 
• Seek immediate medical attention after a truck accident to protect your health and strengthen your injury claim. 
• Take photographs of the accident scene, vehicle damage, road conditions, and any visible injuries to collect evidence. 
• Avoid discussing your accident with anyone or posting it on social media, as insurance companies might exploit this information. 
• Be cautious with insurance adjusters, as they may use seemingly harmless statements to reduce or deny your claim. 
• Don’t underestimate the complexity of truck insurance policies as they often involve significant sums, prompting aggressive tactics from insurance companies. 

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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 a few ways that truck accident victims can ruin their chances at obtaining maximum compensation for their suffering by making preventable mistakes. Please don’t let any of these issues happen to you. Contact 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 truck 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 mistake gives them the opening they need to say you don’t deserve as much money as you’re demanding in your truck accident case, 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. NSC truck accident statistics show that passenger vehicle occupants, pedestrians, and other road users are more vulnerable to injuries than truck drivers in collisions.

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 Truck Accident 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 your physical condition allows, and it’s safe to do so, you should photograph the damage to vehicles, skid marks, damage to road signs, and, if possible, even your own injuries. Documenting this information can be crucial in a truck accident investigation.

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 also 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 truck and car accidents is the insurance policies that cover these vehicles. As you just learned, trucking policies can easily reach 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

An experienced truck 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. Forgoing legal representation is one of the most expensive mistakes you should avoid during your truck accident case.

How a Truck Accident Attorney Can Help You Avoid Major Mistakes in Your Case

Truck accidents often result in severe injuries, property damage, and complex legal situations due to the involvement of many parties in the commercial trucking business. 

If you or your loved one has been involved in such an accident, hiring a skilled truck accident attorney can make a significant difference in dealing with the legal process to secure fair compensation. A skilled Florida truck accident lawyer can assist you by:

Collecting Evidence of Negligent Behavior

For your personal injury claim to succeed, you must prove that the other party’s negligent actions are what caused the truck accident. To do this, you will need relevant and sufficient evidence to make a strong case. 

A truck accident attorney will help you obtain critical evidence, such as driver logs, maintenance records, and witness statements, to reconstruct the events surrounding the accident. This information strengthens your claim and increases your chances of success.

Determining Liability and the Division of Fault Among Parties

Determining who is at fault in a truck accident can be challenging. Multiple parties may share responsibility, including the truck driver, trucking company, or even the truck manufacturer.

For instance, the truck driver may have violated federal trucking regulations while operating a rig with a defective braking system. An experienced truck accident lawyer has the knowledge to investigate the incident thoroughly, identifying liable parties and building a strong case to support your claim.

Calculating Fair Compensation for Truck Accident Damages

Truck accidents often cause serious injuries that lead to high medical bills, lost wages, and long-term impacts on the quality of your life. Damages awarded in personal injury cases can be economic damages, or non economic. 

An attorney evaluates the full extent of the damages you are entitled to in your truck accident claim, ensuring you get maximum compensation. 

Negotiating with the Trucking Company’s Insurance Carrier 

Dealing with insurance companies following a truck accident can be frustrating. Often, insurance adjusters try to devalue your truck accident claim or deny it altogether. This makes it difficult to secure fair compensation. 

An experienced FL truck accident lawyer can handle these negotiations on your behalf, using their knowledge of personal injury law and prior case precedents to get you the best possible outcome, ensuring no aspect of your claim is overlooked. 

Handling Paperwork and Correspondence

Truck accident claims often involve extensive paperwork and communication with insurance companies. A truck accident lawyer handles these tasks on your behalf, ensuring all documents are correctly filed and deadlines are met. 

Additionally, they communicate directly with insurance representatives, protecting you from cunning tactics aimed at undermining your case.

Filing a Truck Accident Lawsuit 

Should negotiations with the insurance company fail, or your policy limit fails to cover all costs incurred, a truck accident attorney can file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf.

An attorney ensures that all critical documentation is obtained and filed within the statute of limitations, which varies by state. This attention to detail helps protect your legal rights, avoid mistakes, and maximize the chance of a successful truck accident claim. 

Call Jones Law Group Truck Accident Attorneys to Hear How We Can Protect Your Case

At Jones Law Group, we understand the challenges many face when dealing with legal processes and insurance companies alone after a truck accident. Our seasoned truck accident attorneys have handled numerous claims, from underride truck accident cases to jackknife collisions to lost load crashes, successfully.

At Jones Law Group, our team is ready to help you pursue your rightful compensation. Schedule a free consultation by contacting us online or calling (727) 571-1333.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who can be held liable in a truck accident? 

Liability in truck accidents can extend beyond the driver and include trucking companies, maintenance providers, cargo loaders, and even manufacturers if equipment failure is involved. A skilled attorney can help establish liability.

What types of compensation can I recover after a truck accident? 

Victims may be eligible for compensation for truck accident damages that cover medical expenses, rehabilitation, property damage, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and non-economic damages like pain and suffering.

One of the mistakes truck accident victims make is failing to consider the full range of damages they have sustained. Our team can assess which damages you are entitled to receive compensation for in a truck accident settlement.

How long do I have to file a truck accident claim? 

Under Florida law, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. However, the statute of limitations varies from one State to another, so consult with an attorney as soon as possible to avoid missing deadlines.