So you’ve been in an accident with a huge semi-truck, a traumatic scenario to say the least, and its very likely that your vehicle is destroyed and you may have sustained injuries. Semi trucks are, after all, very large and demolish most things in their path. What to do now?
As with any other accident, there are a few things that you must take account of:
- The extent of your injuries
- Medical bills and or any additional bills as a result of the injury
- Lost wages or lost work
- Other hardships, pain and suffering
These factors will determine the overall value of your claim. It is not in the insurance company’s interest to give you more than you are owed so you must be diligent about record keeping to ensure you receive everything that you are owed.
Along these lines, its in the insurance company’s interest most times to settle quickly and they will encourage you to do so, but you shouldn’t be in a hurry. Treatment can extend for longer or be more expensive than originally expected, or the victim may not anticipate all of the negative repercussions of their injury until some period of time after the accident. It is in your best interest to develop a full account of your injuries and losses following a semi-truck accident, and that may take some time.
Should I Hire A Truck Accident Attorney?
Yes, definitely. A lawyer to guide you through the process and deal with the insurance company is a valuable resource—literally. Cases fought by an attorney average higher settlement totals to those fought by individuals. This is because the law is complex and multifaceted, and if you are not familiar with all of the ins and outs of law you will miss details that insurance companies will not, and you will cost yourself some settlement dollars. Many law firms will offer free consultation on truck accident claims, and oftentimes the victim pays nothing until a settlement is reached.