Contacting a personal injury law firm just after your collision is one way to protect your rights after a truck accident. Some of the steps that a lawyer may take to help preserve your rights include:
- Alerting you to specific statements or general phraseology that could impact your ability to collect compensation through insurance
- Advising you on steps to take at the scene of the accident, such as receiving medical care, which could be important to any lawsuit you bring later
- Providing input as to steps you can take after leaving the accident to ensure you can seek compensation either through insurance or a lawsuit
A truck accident lawyer’s goal is to help you seek compensation to pay for your bills after a collision. Although you do not need to hire representation, a lawyer can help complete tasks you may find confusing or overwhelming. They can inform you of your possible choices and of your rights so you can make decisions that are right for you.
Your Rights May Be in Danger After a Truck Accident
There are steps you can take after a truck accident, including:
- Calling emergency services for help after the accident.
- Getting you and your vehicle to a safe location (Try to get to a safe location if your vehicle is not maneuverable).
- Receiving medical attention at the scene of your accident if needed.
- Gathering and exchanging contact information, insurer information, and driver’s license details from parties involved in the accident.
If you issue any statement to an insurer or other driver, make sure you give simple facts. If you need to communicate beyond that, you may want to consider a lawyer. The lawyer can help manage your communications, especially in scenarios like car accidents. It is possible that you could:
- Misspeak because you have not had time to think through how your accident happened.
- Be flustered from your accident, leading you to recount your collision or your specific actions in a way that is not accurate.
- Make comments that unfairly bar you from recovering the compensation that you should be entitled to.
Insurance companies may look for ways to shift the financial burden of an accident to you, if possible. Speaking with a lawyer may help ensure that you do not become an unwitting victim of deceptive practices by an insurer, another person involved in your accident, or any other party that would benefit from violating your rights.
A Lawyer May Go Beyond Defending Your Rights
Calling a lawyer is one thing you can do to protect your rights after a truck accident, but it may be more than that. A lawyer also may be able to:
- Answer questions you have about seeking compensation for your accident
- Tell you who they believe is liable in your accident
- Explain how they may help you seek any compensation that you are entitled to
- Handle insurers on your behalf
- Initiate a lawsuit should you choose to do so
The services a lawyer provide could:
- Reduce your stress by taking care of the legal matters while protecting your rights
- Prevent you from having to bring a lawsuit without a lawyer’s assistance
- Allow you to focus on recovery as they execute your case for compensation
A Lawyer May Establish Fault for Your Accident
One of the central questions after any collision is who is at fault. The person who causes the accident may also be responsible for:
- Your injuries
- Damage to your vehicle
- Secondary effects of your accident, which may stem from your injuries
You may be able to seek compensation from the responsible party through insurance. Still, you might end up pursuing a lawsuit if insurance does not prove to be a viable way for you to receive the compensation that you deserve.
Some parties that could be responsible for your accident include:
- A driver whose actions caused you to collide
- A vehicle manufacturer whose car malfunctioned in some way
- A vehicle parts manufacturer whose part malfunctioned in some way
- A company or individual who employs the driver responsible for your accident
- A municipality responsible for conditions that contributed to your accident
Some states have statutes governing comparative negligence, which may generally mean you can still seek compensation even if you are partially at fault for your truck accident. As the Legal Information Institute (LII) explains, you may be entitled to compensation commensurate with another party’s responsibility for your accident.
Some factors that could make others responsible for your accident include:
- Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Driving while distracted
- Driving in a biologically impaired state, such as while drowsy or emotionally agitated
- Engaging in aggressive driving behaviors
- Failing to properly drug and alcohol test drivers under one’s supervision
- Failing to maintain safe road conditions
Your lawyer will explain to you how you are the victim of negligence, who they believe is responsible for your accident, and what amount of compensation you should be entitled to as a result. Your lawyer may then go about seeking your awards.
Handling Your Legal Needs
A lawyer may handle all the duties necessary to complete your lawsuit. This may include:
- Collecting and organizing evidence
- Hiring expert witnesses
- Submitting all necessary legal paperwork
- Completing in-person appearances on your behalf
- Negotiating a settlement for you or your loved one
- Completing your case for compensation via trial if necessary
- Defending your rights
Your lawyer may also assist you in ways that are not strictly legal, such as helping you obtain medical care and accessing other resources that you may require after a truck accident.
Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, Today
The team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC, wants to ensure that you do not make decisions without understanding your rights. A lawyer may help you from the moment your accident happens, so long as you call their team and alert them about your accident.
Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, at (800) 235-0444 for a free consultation today.
