The number of trucks involved in fatal accidents has been increasing significantly in recent years, rising 42 percent between 2009 and 2017.
Research has also indicated that the number of crashes involving trucks resulting in injuries increased by 62 percent from 2009 to 2015.
With truck drivers often fatigued and more drivers on the road, the combination puts more of us at risk. If you were involved in a truck accident, you'll want to make an appointment with a St. Louis truck accident lawyer or an attorney specializing in truck accidents in your area as soon as possible. It's critical to have someone experienced and knowledgeable in the ins and outs of this type of accident as it's far more complex than if you were involved in an accident with a standard vehicle. The trucking company, truck driver, and their insurance companies will have attorneys who work for them, fighting to prevent you from collecting any compensation you deserve.
With a good lawyer at your side, he or she will not only help you navigate through this difficult process but be sure you are compensated for injuries and other damages.
All the Paperwork
Filing a claim following a truck accident requires filling out a lot of paperwork. If it isn't filled out properly or is filed late, it can negatively affect your ability to recover financial compensation. The attorney will do this all for you and write a demand letter outlining your settlement requests. This letter is incredibly important to the case, so it must be written in clear, specific language with direct demands, so that it is taken seriously. When an attorney writes the letter, it also gives it more weight as the other party will understand there is a possibility of legal action.
Investigation
Your lawyer will examine medical records, police reports, and other documents related to the accident. If the incident happens in FL, you can easily access the FLHSMV crash report online after it has been filed. However, reading these reports can be challenging. A lawyer will know how to read a Florida traffic crash report effectively and will be able to gather valuable information from it. If there are witnesses, the lawyer will also conduct interviews with them. Access to evidence that hasn't been gathered like "black box" data in the truck involved will also be sought out, all of which can help your case. Proving fault is key to receiving compensation, which is much easier for an experienced attorney than it would be for someone who is not familiar with the process.
There will also be an investigation of the trucking company to look for evidence of negligence, such as failing to keep the truck properly maintained, which occurs frequently when a truck is involved in an accident.
Ensuring Medical Care
Insurance companies often try to limit the number of visits the victim can have to the doctor and other healthcare providers or even claim they no longer need medical care for their injuries. A lawyer will fight to be sure that you receive the care you need to recover.
Handling Negotiations
Negotiation is almost always part of the process in receiving compensation after a truck accident. Having to negotiate with insurance company lawyers can be very intimidating to most people, but when you have a lawyer, they will handle all of this to be sure that you aren't taken advantage of and that the final settlement is as close to your demands as possible.