During rush hour, there are a lot of dangers on the road, but tractor trailers are the ones that can often cause the most damage in the shortest period of time. If your car was struck by a tractor trailer during your morning or evening commute, there is a good chance that your car was totaled and you more than likely sustained major injuries from the accident. Before speaking with the trucking company's insurance company, it is important to talk to an accident attorney. Below is a guide for how an accident attorney can help you make sure you are compensated as well as you can be for the damage the driver caused to both you and your vehicle.
Assess Cause
The attorney will know how to assess what caused the damage. If you speak to the insurance company without speaking with an attorney first, the company may be able to twist your words to make the accident seem as though it was your fault. The attorney will speak to the insurance company on your behalf so you can focus on recovering and not have to worry about wording something in a way that would let the other driver off the hook for the damage that he or she caused.
Gather Witness Testimony
At the scene, officers typically get the personal information for any witnesses that saw what happened. The attorney can speak with the witnesses to build a case against the driver. If the attorney presents the insurance company with multiple witness accounts that attest to the fact that the driver was at fault for the accident, the insurance company may be more likely to settle the case out of court.
Assess Damage
The attorney will have the knowledge and skill needed to determine the true value of the damage that the truck driver caused. The attorney can fight for the insurance company to have to pay not only the bills that have already accrued due to the accident, but he or she will also be able to assess the future bills that you may have. Some injuries that can be sustained in an accident will have lifelong consequences that you will have to deal with forever. The value of those injuries needs to be determined by the attorney, and then he or she can go after the insurance company to pay you for the issues you will be facing later on down the road.
Hiring an attorney to represent you against a large insurance company is important. They will often take their payment from the settlement agreement you receive so that you do not have to pay any money out of pocket to get the representation you need.