The Importance of Getting a Lawyer Involved Early after a Trucking Accident
Truck accidents are complex, affecting your physical health, mental well-being, job, and financial security. After a crash, you may want nothing more than some time to recover and think about your next steps. Unfortunately, time isn’t on your side. Although you have two years to file a lawsuit for a truck accident, you don’t want to wait that long. Evidence degrades quickly, and starting your claim with an attorney right away gives you a better chance at a successful claim.
Take the first step now and reach out to John H. Ruby & Associates to set up a consultation. Call us at 502-895-2626 to talk to one of our attorneys.
Your Accident Could Be Incredibly Expensive
Compared to passenger vehicle accidents, truck accidents often cause a massive amount of damage. This includes both property damage and bodily harm. In fact, without a fair settlement from the liable party, you could be left with so much medical debt that it’s hard to see a way out. In the months after your accident, you’ll need to figure out how to pay for your medical care, your vehicle, and any other accident-related expenses you may have. Without a truck accident lawyer advocating for you, the odds of getting what you deserve from the insurance company are slim.
The Truck Driver’s Team Starts Investigating Immediately
As we already said, time isn’t on your side after an accident. This is made even worse by the fact that the trucking company immediately begins an investigation after a collision. This includes investigating the crash scene, doing a drug and alcohol test on the driver, and learning more about the victim.
Why do they want to learn more about you? They will look for ways to decrease the value of your claim—perhaps a preexisting injury they can blame for your injuries, past issues with your vehicle, or any indication that you’re an unsafe driver. This puts you at a disadvantage if you hold off on hiring an attorney.
You Deserve Compensation for Your Losses
No matter how serious your truck accident was, you likely have a lot to lose if your claim is unsuccessful. This really isn’t a good time to try to make your own case and negotiate with the insurance company on your own. Remember, you get one chance at this. If you fail, your medical bills, lost wages, and damaged vehicle are all your own to handle. Hiring a personal injury attorney right away gives you an opportunity to hold the negligent parties fully accountable for their actions.
The More Time an Attorney Has, the Stronger Case They Can Build
The more money that’s at stake, the harder an insurance company will fight to keep it. Commercial vehicles have far larger insurance policies than passenger vehicles, which means that there is a lot of money available if there’s a strong personal injury claim.
What does this mean for your claim? It means that you can expect the insurance company to be even more strategic when it comes to negotiating a settlement. Whatever it takes to pin the accident on you or convince you that you deserve less, they will do it.
In some cases, clients try to negotiate their truck accident settlement on their own, only to realize that they are in over their heads. They do eventually make the right decision and retain legal counsel. However, in the meantime, they have sabotaged their own case and made it harder for an attorney to fight for them.
Unless you have extensive knowledge of the legal aspects of truck accident cases, we would strongly advise that you do not try to handle the case on your own. Get an attorney involved who knows how to go toe to toe with the trucking companies.
Going this route also frees up time when you need it most. Recovering from serious injuries is draining, and when you no longer have to worry about hanging your own personal injury claim, you can focus your energy on your healing process.
Start Your Truck Accident Claim with John H. Ruby & Associates
The team at John H. Ruby & Associates is ready to talk to you about your options and make a plan. Schedule your consultation now by calling us at 502-895-2626 or sending us a message online.
