Two Reasons to Hire a Truck-Accident Attorney
Posted on: 29 July 2016
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One of the most frightening auto accidents that you can be involved in is one in which your normal passenger vehicle is struck by a very large semi-truck. If you are struck by a semi-truck, you will want to make sure that you hire an attorney that specializes in truck accidents, as this type of accident can be far more complicated than a regular auto accident. Listed below are two reasons to hire a truck-accident attorney to assist you.
Identify the Responsible Party
The thing that makes truck-accident cases so difficult is determining who exactly you will need to take to court in order to be compensated for the accident. While you may think that the blame would belong to the driver, there are actually a number of other factors that can leave the responsibility for the accident on other parties. Your attorney will be able to identify the main person or company to identify in order to proceed with the lawsuit properly.
For example, if the accident occurred because the driver was exhausted, your attorney may choose to go after the company that hired the driver for forcing him or her to work more hours than is legal. If the accident occurred because the truck had a technical malfunction, your attorney can choose to make a case against the manufacturer of the truck for the defect, whoever was in charge of maintenance for not detecting the issue, or the company that owns the truck for neglecting maintenance.
Negotiate a Settlement
One of the most important ways that an attorney can help you with an accident involving a semi-truck is by helping you to negotiate the best possible settlement. This is absolutely vital, as an accident involving such a large vehicle is much more likely to end with your vehicle being totaled, in numerous injuries, or possibly in your being unable to return to work for some time.
While it is common to receive a settlement offer shortly after the accident occurs, you should be cautious, as the insurance company making the offer is often going to offer you the bare minimum that they think you will accept. Even if the offer seems generous, you will want to talk it over with your attorney because if you accept, you will be unable to sue that company for more money if the settlement falls short of paying for your medical or repair bills.
In order to help you avoid this issue, the attorney will have you visit multiple medical professionals in order to determine the extent of your injuries and how much work you may miss for treatment. This will allow your attorney the chance to use those medical opinions as leverage to get the settlement offer raised to at least cover your lost wages and medical expenses.
Contact a truck-accident attorney as soon as possible in order to discuss the case and to determine how he or she will be able to help. A truck-accident attorney is vital after an accident involving a semi-truck because he or she can help identify the responsible party and help you negotiate a favorable settlement.