Do I Need a Truck Accident Attorney?

 

When you’re involved in an accident with a semi-truck or tractor trailer, the odds are typically against you. The sheer size, weight, and momentum of a semi-truck means that if you were in a car, on a bike or motorcycle, or were walking, you are very likely going to be seriously injured or even killed. Beyond that, if the accident was caused by the negligence of the driver, it can be an uphill battle to ensure that the driver and their company are held responsible for compensating you fairly for damages like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. This is because truck drivers and their companies have decades of experience in defending against similar claims to yours. To help even the odds in your favor, you may wish to hire a lawyer to represent you.

After a truck accident, time is not on your side. Even while you’re waiting for medical help and the police to arrive, the trucking company is beginning an accident investigation. Unless the truck driver is severely injured, one of the first things they will do is call their home office and report the accident. From there, the home office will send field investigators to the accident scene to take photographs, measurements, and gather evidence for their case – all while you are either in a hospital or talking to the police. Hiring your own lawyer means that you will have a team on your side collecting their own evidence to discredit that of the truck company, and will fight to ensure your side of the story is heard.

A seemingly minor or insignificant detail can mean the difference between winning and losing a truck accident case, and an experienced lawyer will be acquainted with the regulations that govern the loading, maintenance, and operation of tractor trailers. They will be able to review the facts of your case in order to determine if a trucker’s failure to comply with any regulations could have contributed to causing your accident. An experienced lawyer will know exactly which questions to ask the driver and their employer during the discovery portion of the trial to prove negligence.

Litigating a personal injury case as the result of a semi-truck accident is typically more difficult than dealing with other types of motor vehicle accident cases. The trucking company will do everything in their power to get the upper hand, and the most effective way to make sure that doesn’t happen is to hire an experienced lawyer to represent your side. It is in their best interests to disburse as little as possible in wrongful death and personal injury claims, and it is important to not let yourself be lulled into a false sense of security when their insurance company offers to pay your initial medical expenses or lost wages if you agree to not hire a lawyer.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, contact the team of attorneys here at Lanzotti & Rau. Our wealth of experience and tenacious defense will help ensure that you receive every bit of compensation that you may be entitled to.