The average 18-wheeler weighs around 80,000 pounds. The average car is about 4,000 pounds. That size difference means that if you’re in an accident with a commercial truck, your injuries may be devastating.
Trucking companies want to protect themselves and their assets at all costs, so they hire insurance companies with experienced lawyers.
In this article, learn more about how trucking insurance companies often handle claims and how truck accident victims can increase their chances of recovering fair compensation.
Tactics Trucking Insurers Use to Minimize Payouts
As soon as a truck accident claim is filed, the insurance company gets to work trying to reduce it. These are some common strategies:
Immediately Deploying Investigators
The sooner the insurer starts investigating the crash, the more evidence they can find. This tactic usually involves playing up inconsistencies (or anything that might undermine the claim) to convince the injured person to accept less.
Pressuring Victims to Give Recorded Statements
Insurance companies love recorded statements because they can take injured people’s words out of context and use them to devalue or deny a claim. As a truck accident victim, you have no obligation to give a recorded statement. If you’re asked to do this, politely decline and talk to a lawyer.
Offering Quick, Too-Low Settlements
Sadly, some injured people are so relieved to be offered any money that they’ll accept a low settlement. That’s why trucking insurance companies tend to make lowball offers early. Once you’ve accepted, you can’t come after them for more compensation.
No matter how tempting an offer sounds, you should always discuss it with a lawyer first.
How Accident Victims Can Protect Their Case
Truck accident victims aren’t powerless against trucking companies. Here’s a look at how you can help protect and build your case.
Preserving Evidence
If you work with a truck accident attorney, they will likely investigate your case and collect as much evidence as possible. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t collect evidence on your own. You could make a difference in your case by collecting and preserving the following types of evidence:
- Photos of the accident scene
- Medical records and hospital discharge summaries
- Proof of lost income
- Contact information for witnesses
- The police report for your accident
In some cases, it may be difficult or impossible to gather much evidence. For example, if you suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash, you may not have been able to photograph the scene. Don’t worry if this is the case. Your attorney should still be able to gather ample evidence.
Avoid Discussing the Accident on Social Media
Insurance companies comb through social media to find anything that could discredit truck accident victims, and even the most seemingly innocent posts can be twisted.
For instance, if you comment “I’m feeling a little better today” after someone asks about the crash, the insurance company might claim you’ve exaggerated your injuries. It’s best to avoid talking about the crash on social media.
Seek Prompt Medical Care and Follow All Treatment Recommendations
Trucking insurance companies will often try to assert that a victim’s injuries aren’t as severe as they claim. If you delay medical care or fail to follow up with your doctor, this may support their argument.
Don’t Sign Anything Without Legal Review
Once you sign any document for an insurance company, it becomes legally binding. Some insurance companies use bad faith tactics, so you shouldn’t trust them to explain anything you’re signing. Always consult your lawyer first.
Hire an Attorney Early
Many accident victims don’t understand just how valuable an attorney can be. Truck accident lawyers will usually investigate the accident immediately to gather evidence in support of the case. Because insurance providers for trucking companies usually do the same, having this kind of early investigation can help level the playing field.
A trucking accident attorney can also handle all communication between you and the trucking insurance company. Because insurance companies will often try to twist accident victims’ words, having legal representation may dramatically decrease your risk of accidentally sabotaging your case.
FAQ
How Much Compensation Can I Recover After a Trucking Accident?
The value of your case depends on the severity of your injuries, the circumstances of the accident, and other factors. A truck accident lawyer can assess your case and give you an idea of how much you might be able to recover.
How Long Does It Take to Resolve a Trucking Accident Case?
That depends on the specifics of the case. Accidents involving mild to moderate injuries and no liability disputes may be resolved within several months. High-value cases involving substantial medical bills, liability disputes, and other complications can take a year or more.
How Much Does It Cost to Work With a Truck Accident Lawyer?
Almost all trucking accident lawyers work on contingency. This means that you pay nothing up front. If you win your case, you give your lawyer a percentage of your compensation. If you lose, you pay nothing.
Your Ally in the Fight Against Trucking Insurance Companies
Insurers for trucking companies are good at what they do. Unfortunately, that often means that truck accident victims, especially those without skilled legal representation, don’t get the compensation they deserve.
At Ramsey Law Group, we feel called to stand up for those who have been injured by negligent truckers and their employers. If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident in Texas, get in touch and schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.