The benefits of hiring a truck accident attorney include hands-on support for dealing with insurance companies and having legal insight into federal truck regulations that could impact your case. An attorney can access more extensive evidence, build a more thorough claim, and even avoid having to go to court by seeking a fair settlement outside of court. This may speed up the process, reduce frustration, and, in some cases, lead to larger truck accident claims.
Consider the following examples of benefits victims have when they hire a truck accident attorney throughout their case.
Knowledge and Litigation Experience Against Trucking Companies
Many trucking companies have retained litigators solely to reduce compensation claims and minimize the risk of reputational damage from lawsuits. Your truck accident attorney has extensive knowledge of these methods and how to avoid costly losses. Your attorney will:
- Have extensive knowledge of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration laws and rules that may be applicable to your case.
- A better understanding of applicable manufacturing or cargo-related mistakes and best practice errors.
- Insight into complex medical injuries related to truck accidents and the long-term implications of these injuries.
Your attorney’s experience, if they handled truck accidents previously, can prove to be the single most important factor in recovering damages in your case.
Maximizing Compensation Claims
An experienced Jackson auto accident lawyer also has extensive experience in understanding all of the losses you have. It is very common for victims not to fully understand their rights to damages, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of income and benefits
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Property damage
- Loss of consortium
Their goal is to have a very clear understanding of all of your physical, emotional, and financial losses by seeking documented evidence of them. That makes it harder for the insurance company to refute your claims.
Access to Critical But Hard-to-Obtain Evidence
Trucking companies must keep extensive logs and documentation about their vehicles and drivers. Yet, this information is not publicly provided. Your truck accident lawyer will capture evidence more readily because they know what to seek, where to seek it, and how to make sure that trucking companies share those critical factors.
This may include, for example, truck driver hours-of-service documentation and vehicle maintenance records. It may include medical records from the truck driver or data on cargo loaders. With this information, your attorney cannot only maximize claims but also seek compensation from any party that played a role in the accident.
Minimize Disputes Over Fault and Insurance Company Risks
Insurance companies may try to shift blame from the truck driver or company to the victim. They do this to reduce the costs they must pay. Your attorney knows and understands these tactics and will protect your right to fair compensation. This includes demonstrating facts with evidence and expert witnesses or resources.
Legal representation, coupled with a proven strategy, can minimize the risk of not recovering damages fairly in your case. If your case must go to court, this can become even more important to reaching a fair settlement.
Working with an Attorney Can Be Critical
These are some of the most common benefits of hiring a truck accident attorney, but not all. Note that attorneys reduce frustration, fear, and delays while also providing hands-on support to achieve the best possible outcome.