Is it Worth Hiring a Truck Accident Lawyer?

Deciding if it is worth hiring a truck accident lawyer comes down to a variety of factors. The most important is, will the insurance company provide you with a settlement that covers your losses?

If not, then chances are you do need a truck accident lawyer for your personal injury case to recover compensation. However, if the insurance settlement is likely to not cover the cost of an attorney and your out-of-pocket expenses, then the answer is likely no, you wouldn’t want to hire an attorney.

How Can a Truck Accident Lawyer Help You With Your Case?

Truck accidents can be extremely complex. Usually, there are multiple parties that can be held at fault and the evidence can be difficult to collect on your own. If you were involved in a truck accident and are wondering if it’s worth hiring a truck accident lawyer, here are a few ways a personal injury attorney can help you with your case:

• Gather and protect evidence for your claim. As soon as the trucking company learns about the crash, it will send a response team to the site to gather evidence and data from the truck’s “black box.” The black box is a computerized system that collects data whenever the truck is in motion. This data is crucial to your claim and needs to be protected as soon as possible. Since the truck company will not share this information with you, a lawyer will be needed to send a demand letter for the data.
• Identify who is responsible for the accident. Since the truck is a commercial vehicle, there may be multiple individuals and businesses that can be held responsible for the accident. Since there may be more than one insurance company involved in the claim, it’s best to have a truck accident lawyer who has experience in handling numerous defendants.
• Negotiating with the insurance companies. The insurance companies will do whatever they can to avoid paying the value of your claim. They will try to settle with a lowball offer and will use bullying tactics to get you to sign. But once you hire a truck accident lawyer for your case, you will no longer have to worry about dealing with the insurance adjusters. All negotiations will go through the attorney.
• Heading to court. Since a truck accident case can be complex, the chances of a settlement are unlikely. If your truck accident case heads to court, you will need an experienced trial lawyer to represent you and fight on your behalf.

How Do Truck Accident Victims Pay for Legal Advice?

Keep in mind that most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they will take a percentage of your settlement to cover the attorney fees and legal costs, so you do not have to pay any upfront costs. This arrangement gives truck accident victims a chance to heal from their injuries without worrying about how to pay for legal services.

If the truck accident attorney fails to get a settlement or verdict in the injury victim’s favor, then they do not owe a fee.

Further, you also have the opportunity to discuss these fees and the potential outcomes of a case; during a consultation, be sure to ask as the lawyer will ultimately determine if it is worth taking the case on.

What Factors Should You Consider When Hiring a Truck Accident Lawyer?

The following factors are the most important to consider when you or a loved one have been involved in a truck accident and are considering hiring a truck accident lawyer.

The Severity of Your Damages

The first component to consider is the severity of the damages you have incurred. If you were involved in a slight accident with a commercial truck that only created minimal damage to your vehicle and did not result in injury, chances are you do not need an attorney.

However, if you are involved in a rear-end collision that totals your car and leaves you hospitalized with a catastrophic injury, hiring an experienced truck accident lawyer may benefit you in helping to recover medical bills, lost wages, and potential future lost income.

Remember that not all injuries appear immediately; ailments like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) do not often show up until later on. So it’s always best to seek medical treatment after a truck accident.

The Response of the Insurance Company

Another factor to consider is how the insurance companies including your own, the driver or trucking company handle your claim. If there is a lack of communication, or an insurance adjuster is pressuring you into accepting a small settlement, it may be in your best interest to have an attorney handle these communications for you.

But, if you feel like they offer you a fair settlement and you are aware of any future costs down the road as a result of your injuries or no further treatment is needed, then you may not need a truck accident lawyer.

The Complexities of a Truck Accident Case

While it may seem that it’s just as easy as determining if your settlement is fair or not, there is much more that goes into truck accident claims.

In addition to computing the costs associated with:

• Medical costs,
• Current and future lost wages,
• Property damage, and
• Pain and suffering

You need to be aware of the complexities of a truck accident claim.

The most complex issue in a truck accident case is determining who is liable as negligence is the most important aspect in deciding what a claim is worth in large truck accidents.

The Causes of Truck Accidents

The insurance companies of the truck driver and trucking company will investigate:

• The Truck Driver: Was the driver negligent in stopping? Were they driving under the influence or did not have control of the vehicle?
• The Trucking Company: Was the truck loaded improperly? Was the truck not well maintained?
• The Truck Manufacturer: Was there a faulty part on the truck that led to the accident that the manufacturer knew the risks of?
• The Mechanic: Did the mechanic properly maintain the vehicle as contracted to do?
• The Municipality: Were roadways kept and maintained to keep all drivers safe?
• Other Drivers: Did another driver drive recklessly such as texting while driving?
• You, the Driver: Were you driving negligently?

It’s not always that only one party is at fault; instead, it is more common that there were multiple liable parties. In those cases, it comes down to your staying laws of fault, and no fault accidents.

Schedule A Free Case Evaluation With A Truck Accident Lawyer

If you live in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia and have suffered truck accident injuries or were involved in a car accident, an experienced truck accident attorney at Regan Zambri Long can get the best results possible for your case. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to begin an attorney-client relationship. You don’t pay until we win.

Schedule your free consultation with a knowledgeable truck accident attorney by calling (202) 960-4596 or by completing our online form.