Trucking Accident? Why Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Lawyer Up
Have you been injured in a trucking accident? Do you need to know whether or not to hire a lawyer?
If you’ve been injured because of the negligence of another driver, you need to know when it’s best to hire a trucking accident lawyer. For many accident victims, their first instinct is to call a lawyer.
Unfortunately, not all accident victims receive the compensation they’re entitled to. Insurance companies who represent negligent drivers often deny the victims their rightful compensation.
In cases like this, you need to know when it’s best to hire a lawyer. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, keep reading to learn about how truck insurance works and why truck insurance companies would prefer you not to call your attorney.
How Truck Insurance Works
To understand why you should call your attorney after a trucking accident, you first need to understand how truck insurance works.
Trucking companies pay their premium to the insurance company, much in the same way you pay for your car insurance. When a truck accident happens, the premiums will increase for the trucking company.
The insurance company then pays out the claims when a truck has an accident. Because trucks can cause significant damage, the claims will cost a large sum of money.
Thus, the insurance company typically cares about one thing: money. To stay in business as long as possible, they aim to pay the least amount possible for a claim. Their loyalty lies with the trucking company, their customer, and not you, the claimant.
When you have an accident, an insurance adjuster will call you. They’ll attempt to elicit specific responses from you, so answer their questions carefully. Do not admit anything that will put more liability on you and take responsibility away from the trucking company.
Also, try to settle the claim as quickly as possible. Some insurance companies will slow down the claims process with the hope that the statute of limitations will pass. Each state has a different limit, so learn your state’s limit and stay within it.
An insurance adjuster may also recommend a service to the victim of the trucking accident. Be wary when this happens since the adjuster will want to recommend the body shop that would cost the least amount of money. Again, remember that the adjuster does not always have your best interest in mind.
The Not-So-Hidden Agenda
Insurance companies do not want you to seek an attorney right away, especially a trucking accident attorney. An attorney with trucking accident experience understands the agenda of the insurance company, and they will help protect your rights.
When you’ve had an accident, the insurance company will call you. Many will attempt to do one of the following things:
- Not cover your bills
- Deny the claim completely without explaining why
- Refuse to pay the claim
- Fail to investigate the claim fully
- Offer a weak settlement far below the cost of your injuries
- Delay payment for a claim
Truck accident claims and settlements are expensive. Thus, an insurance adjuster and company will do whatever they can to avoid paying the full amount for the claim. They may even attempt to prove the victim was at fault rather than the truck driver.
When you hire a trucking accident lawyer, insurance companies quake in their boots. They know you have some experienced individuals in your corner who are willing to take them on and make them pay the full claim.
Why Hire a Truck Accident Attorney
A truck accident lawyer has the knowledge and experience that you need for your particular case. Insurance companies know this, so they discourage people from seeing the right help.
Here are some of the major tasks a truck accident lawyer will accomplish for you.
Build a Strong Case
Any attorney can build a basic case. It’s the fundamentals of law school. A trucking accident lawyer, however, can build a strong case for you when you’ve been injured in a truck accident.
The attorney with experience in trucking accidents will know the loopholes of the law and the ways that insurance companies attempt to avoid paying a full claim. They will know what evidence to look for and how to build that air-tight case so you can receive a full settlement or win your case in court.
Because a truck accident attorney knows how to build a strong case, many insurance companies will push for you to settle and not contact an attorney.
Investigate
Truck accident attorneys will conduct a thorough investigation and know what to look for when seeking the cause of the accident. A large firm often has specialized investigators that seek out the best possible evidence for your case.
This way, you can focus on healing and recovering instead of researching your case.
Litigate and Negotiate
Your trucking accident lawyer will handle all of the claims and negotiate with insurance reps. They will ultimately prevent the insurance adjuster from bullying you by taking care of your claim.
When you’ve been in an accident, often the insurance adjuster will contact you directly and ask a series of questions. When you hire a truck accident attorney, they will work with the insurance company directly so you don’t have to.
Represent You
Unlike the insurance company, a truck accident attorney has your best interest in mind. They will represent you in court, fight for your rights, and earn you the best claim possible.
Call a Truck Accident Attorney
When you’ve been in a trucking accident, you will meet all kinds of people that claim they have your best interest in mind. The doctors and nurses who treat you, the auto body shop owner, and the insurance adjuster will all tell you how you can move back to normal.
But returning to normal will cost a great sum of money. If you’re the victim of the accident, you should not have to pay this money. Insurance companies know they will pay less if you do not have legal representation, so they will discourage you from seeking an attorney.
Have you been in a car or trucking accident? Do you need legal representation?
If so, contact Alpha Accident Lawyers. We have the experience and knowledge you need to help you get the most out of your claim. Give us a call today and let us help you.
