It is very important to hire an experienced trucking attorney if you or a loved one has been in an accident with a semi-truck, big rig, 18 wheeler, or any type of commercial truck. Truck companies have a lot at stake when it comes to defending such accidents. It is not uncommon to learn that within minutes after a trucking accident, the trucking company sent its investigators to the accident scene to start working on their behalf. These accident investigators are trained to protect trucking companies. Their goal is to work as quickly as possible to collect evidence or information from the accident scene with the hopes of minimizing the damages a victim may be entitled to.
With that info in mind, it’s important that an injury victim retain an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible to work on their behalf to start investigating the crash scene before key evidence such as tire skid marks or debris from the accident are no longer available. In addition, you want to hire an attorney quickly so that they can demand in writing that the truck company not destroy important information about the actual company driver involved in that crash, such as the driver’s logs that show where the driver has been driving for a period of time prior to the collision and the results of drug and alcohol tests that may have been administered after the crash. Also, an attorney needs to quickly demand that a trucking company keep any electronic computer data from the actual truck that was involved in the collision. This electronic data provides very important details about the 18 wheeler at the time of the accident including the speed that the truck was traveling at the time of the collision and how long the truck had actually been on the road for weeks prior to the accident. Basically, if an attorney does not timely request certain information from a trucking company, this information can be lost forever and the value of your injury claim can be greatly diminished.
Commercial trucks like 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, big rigs, even recreational vehicles travel for thousands of miles all day every day; they travel more distances than typical cars. They are also the biggest and the heaviest vehicles on the road. Due to the extreme nature of truck driving, the trucks and the drivers are subjected to a great amount of stress and show signs of wear and tear. Compared to a typical vehicle, tractor-trailers require significant maintenance, and their drivers have higher safety standards and have a higher duty of care towards other drivers on the roads than the average driver. The size and weight of tractor-trailers and the like make them very dangerous if they get involved in truck accidents that may cause serious physical injuries and even death.
How to Process a Truck Accident Claim
If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident, it is recommended that you hire a physical injury lawyer to consult with and help you determine which legal course of action you need to take before you proceed on filing a truck accident claim. The experienced and knowledgeable truck accident lawyers at Council & Associates will dedicate the time and resources to guarantee that you get the maximum compensation that you deserve. Each case is unique, so having a trusted and knowledgeable physical injury attorney by your side will ensure that you receive a fair and just compensation that will help you get through the financial struggle brought on by the accident.
When comparing a typical car accident to a truck accident, truck accidents have different parties that can be held liable for the incident. For you to determine which party is at-fault you need to:
Investigate: Your truck accident claim attorney from Council & Associates will investigate the scene of the accident on your behalf and gather all the necessary paperwork to determine and prove who is at-fault for the incident.
File your claim: All the evidence collected from the incident are gathered and prepared to file a case for your truck accident claim against either a negligent and reckless driver, the truck owner, truck parts manufacturer, etc. The claim will include financial damages for the pain and suffering plus the medical burden you were subjected to. This will help you move on with your life after the accident.
Negotiate: Your experienced and knowledgeable truck accident claim lawyer from Council & Associates will settle your case without subjecting you to a lengthy and costly trial. But if negation demands cannot be settled then the case will go to trial. For the at-fault party, they can be judged and sentenced with punitive punishments.
Go to trial: If no settlement can be agreed upon, your truck accident attorney, who will be well-versed in a courtroom set-up, will take your case to court. We will dedicate the time and resources to secure the compensation you need from the at-fault party. Trial is where the judge will determine the totality of your claim and grant you the compensation that will help you get through the tough times as a result of the at-fault party’s negligence.
Do not go through this alone. Contact one of our truck accident lawyers here at Council & Associates to represent you in this legal journey. We have over a decade of experience handling complicated truck accident cases. We know what truck companies and insurance providers have up their sleeves. Get a free consultation today and we will guide you on the steps that you need for you to maximize your claim. Call us immediately at (404) 562-8857.
