If you’ve been in an accident involving a big truck, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. Even if you don’t sustain major, life-altering injuries, people rarely walk away from a big truck collision without any physical or emotional damages—whether you recognize them or not.
There’s no beating around the bush: going up against a big trucking company and their team of lawyers is not a fair fight for the average person. You’re going to need an experienced professional on your side; a truck accident attorney.
This blog will cover what a truck accident lawyer can do for you and why you need a truck accident lawyer to help navigate the emotional process of making a case and receiving a fair settlement for your injuries and other damages.
Reasons You Need an Attorney
Truck accidents can be terrifying and traumatic. Even the most objective and detail-oriented among us would have difficulty in that state with remembering key details and thinking logically. When it comes to the complexities of sorting out exactly what happened in a truck accident—including whose fault it was, what specific laws might apply, and what damages can be proven—it’s a lot to figure out.
You’re just one person, a victim, and you’ll find yourself up against entities far larger and more powerful, like trucking and insurance companies (and their teams of expert attorneys).
In short, you need an attorney to navigate what can feel like a minefield in order to develop a clear (and provable) perspective on the accident’s circumstances, who’s at fault, and the total damages associated with the crash.
In the event that a loved one is lost due to a truck accident, then a truck accident attorney will help the bereaved to file a wrongful death lawsuit. The attorney will help determine whether the truck driver or company is liable for the accident, due to negligence or recklessness on their part.
A Truck Accident Attorney Knows the Factors That Impact Settlement Value the Most—and How To Prove Them
While it might feel easy to identify whose fault an accident is, proving it can be a monumental task. In reality, the process behind negotiating a truck accident settlement is intense and complicated. Going up against a trucking company alone is like David going up against Goliath. In this metaphor, an experienced truck accident attorney serves as David’s slingshot, helping to “even” the playing field a bit.
Next, we’ll look at a few of the questions you can expect your attorney to help you think through and gather evidence to prove (in court, if needed).
What Are Your Physical Injuries?
Big trucks cause big injuries, which can not only incur giant bills for treatment and care, but also impact your quality of life while you recover (and potentially even beyond). The severity of your injuries plays a large role in the settlement you can expect to receive.
The total cost of medical bills can be staggering in the aftermath of an accident involving a big truck. In addition to hospital bills, you may also have to seek reimbursement for ambulance fees, surgeries or physical therapy/rehabilitation, medical devices, and more. It all adds up, especially if you have long-term issues to deal with or need to recoup lost wages.
Your medical bills are especially helpful in supporting any claims of injury. Obviously, keeping organized and detailed copies of all related records and itemized bills builds the foundation for your case. While those on the other side of settlement negotiations will try to minimize your injuries to reduce the potential settlement value, getting checked out ASAP is your best bet. For example, if you were transported straight to the hospital, and received treatment, it will be tougher to discredit your suffering than if there’s no evidence you sought care in the immediate aftermath—as if your injuries were minor.
Who’s At Fault?
Even when it’s easy to apply common sense and determine who is liable in a truck accident, proving liability can be tricky. In reality, determining liability isn’t always a cut-and-dry process, especially when potential liability can not only implicate the truck driver or the victim, the trucking company itself might be determined to be at fault.
Depending on the exact circumstances, other liable parties may include manufacturers of any parts considered faulty or defective, a mechanic or repair shop that may have done shoddy work or made mistakes that put the driver—or anyone that shares the road with them—in danger.
What Can Be Proven?
Arguably more important than who was actually at fault for a truck accident is what can be proven regarding who is at fault. A truck accident attorney knows what to look for, evidence-wise, and can gather necessary documentation, including:
- Copies of police reports
- Photos or videos from the crash scene
- Witness statements or surveillance footage
- Trucker trip logs and black box data
- Maintenance records, accident reconstruction
Building a compelling and thorough case that proves damages (so they can be collected) is perhaps the most crucial responsibility of a truck accident attorney.
Generally, the weaker the physical evidence of what happened and who’s at fault, the lower the settlement figure will be. That’s why you need an experienced attorney to help you navigate this tricky process.
What Other Damages Are There?
In addition to medical bills, a number of other types of damages can be sought in a truck accident claim. These are considered “non-economic” damages, but they can be recovered just the same. Examples of non-economic damages to discuss with your attorney include pain and suffering, emotional anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life.
While going over your case, your truck accident attorney will help you sort out what additional damages (if any) apply in your case—and what you can expect to recoup for these damages.
Do You Need a Truck Accident Lawyer? Contact Broadwing Legal
The experienced car and truck accident lawyers of Indianapolis at Broadwing Legal are ready to help you get the justice you deserve. We work hard to stand up for our clients against the powerful forces that try to discredit or minimize victims’ claims to only pay a fraction of what they really should. We’ve honed our expertise through our continued experience in the courtroom and out.
The aftermath of an accident is scary. You need an ally on your side, to stand up for you and help you get your life back on track as you recover. When you need experienced professionals who will listen to you and provide guidance you can trust, you need to reach out to Broadwing Legal.