Should I Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer for a Minor Accident?

When it comes to minor truck accidents like a small fender-bender at a stoplight with no injuries, you likely won’t need to hire a law firm to take on your case. Instead, you should be able to communicate with the insurance companies to compensate you for your property damage.

But when you are involved in a truck accident and suffer injuries, it may be time for a truck accident lawyer to step in–even if the accident seemed minor at the time. If an accident involves commercial trucks, here’s how a truck accident attorney can help.

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Why You Should Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer

If an accident occurred between a semi truck and a passenger vehicle, it is likely that even a minor accident with an 80,000-pound big rig resulted in personal injury.

 

However, if you are unsure if you need to seek legal representation, you and a potential truck accident lawyer will need to consider a few aspects of commercial truck crashes. Here are a few examples of when a trucking accident lawyer would come in handy to help you with your claim.

You Have Difficulties Working with the Insurance Company

Following a truck accident, you are likely going to be communicating with a variety of insurance companies, not just your own. Unfortunately, the end goal of the insurance company is to settle at as low of an amount as possible. Insurance policies on a semi truck usually range in the millions so it’s no surprise the insurance carrier will try to get you to settle for a small amount as soon as possible.

 

A minor accident involving a truck driver will still likely result in large medical bills, lifelong injuries, lost wages, mental anguish, and emotional distress.

 

However, in order to recover compensation, you will need to prove the fault of the other driver. Unfortunately, the insurance company will not help you with any of this and may just say that you were partially responsible so it doesn’t have to pay the full claim. But a truck accident attorney can help you get the evidence needed to prove fault.

There Can Be Multiple Liable Parties in a Truck Accident Claim

Even a minor truck accident claim is often more complicated than a typical car accident case. The size of the truck can cause significant damage and injury to a passenger vehicle and could involve multiple vehicles. In addition, if the trucking company had been found not abiding to federal regulations, there may be multiple parties at fault.

 

An experienced truck accident lawyer can determine the liability of trucking companies, truck drivers, and manufacturers.

 

Further, if the large commercial truck was carrying hazardous materials, you may be able to make a claim against the freight who owns those materials that led to severe injuries.

Meeting Deadlines and Understanding the Law

Depending on the state you live in, a truck accident injury lawyer will determine the statute of limitations you have to file an injury claim. Understanding the deadlines and abiding by the law can be complex, but a personal injury attorney can help.

 

Involvement in a commercial truck crash is not only a stressful situation, it also requires a lot of time to build a case. A passionate lawyer will be able to negotiate with the insurance adjusters, fight against large insurance companies, and make sure you receive compensation for your losses.

What a Truck Accident Lawyer Can Do For You

Following a trucking accident, no matter how minor, you need to establish an attorney-client relationship to ensure that you can seek compensation for your medical expenses following a traffic accident.

 

If you have suffered injuries after a collision involving commercial carriers, you need to seek medical attention and keep track of medical costs. No matter the injuries suffered, you should be compensated.

 

From there, an attorney can conduct a free review, help you work with a medical professional who will not minimize your suffering, and gather the evidence needed to build a strong tractor trailer case. Our truck accident lawyer can then negotiate with the insurance companies to make sure you receive proper compensation. And sometimes, when negotiations break down, a lawyer can represent your interests in court.

Contact Our DC Truck Accident Attorneys Today

Do I Need a Lawyer for My Minor Trucking Accident?

Truck accidents are more complex than normal car accident cases. Not only were you hit by a vehicle that is 25 times the weight of a passenger car, but there may be more than one defendant in the case. But are there times when a truck accident lawyer is not necessary?

 

There are some scenarios when a lawyer may not be needed for your case, such as:

 

  • There are no injuries and the property damage is minor: Let’s say you are in the middle of a traffic jam on I-395. As you inch forward to your next destination, you feel a thump behind you and your car jerks forward a tiny bit. You pull to the side of the road as does the truck driver who hit you. You examine the damage and it’s a slight dent. In a case like this, where there’s little damage and you are not injured, you can work with the insurance company to get the damage repaired to your vehicle. 
  • You were partially at fault for the accident: Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland follow contributory negligence laws. What this means is if you are even 1% at fault for the accident, you will not be able to collect compensation. Washington, DC is also a no-fault state, which requires drivers to file with their auto insurance to cover their own injuries rather than being able to sue the other driver for compensation.
  • The insurance company offers a fair settlement: In a minor accident, you may already know what your claim is worth. And if the insurance company offers a reasonable amount that covers the damage to your vehicle, you probably don’t need a truck accident lawyer to help you. If you’re not sure if the offer is reasonable, you may want to speak with an experienced attorney to get more information.
  • It would cost more to hire an attorney than to settle: If the potential recovery of your claim is small, it may not be worth hiring a trucking accident lawyer. For example, your vehicle had high mileage and had a low book value before the accident. Even if the car was totaled in the accident, it may be only worth a few thousand dollars. In a case like this, a lawyer may not be necessary for your claim.

Even in the scenarios above, we suggest contacting a truck accident lawyer to learn the value of your claim and to see what legal options are available to you.

Truck Accidents Happen, Regan Zambri Long Can Provide Legal Advice

Whether you live in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia, a respected truck accident attorney at Regan Zambri Long will get the best results possible for your case. Find out how we can help you with your truck accident case in a no-obligation, free consultation. You don’t pay until we win.

If you were injured in an accident that involved a commercial vehicle, our personal injury lawyers will conduct a free consultation to come up with a plan and determine if you need a lawyer.

Schedule your free case evaluation for truck wreck cases by calling (202) 978-4851 or submitting our contact form! Attorney’s fees are calculated once you win. Don’t hesitate–utilize our free legal consultation today.

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Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.

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