3 Ways To Increase Your Settlement In A Truck Accident Case
When you get into an accident with a commercial truck, serious injuries are common. If you were involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle, there are steps you can take to ensure your settlement is maximized.
Tip #1: Get Medical Attention
The best thing you can do after you are involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle is to get medical attention. You should call 911, and you should accept help from the EMTs who respond to the scene. You should accept transportation to the emergency room. You should allow the emergency room staff to fully treat you, and you should follow up on all recommended medical care.
You can provide the hospital with your insurance information if you have that information, and you should let them know that you were in an accident and that billing may need to go through the car insurance provider of the responsible party.
In order to get compensated for your medical care, and for the damages that you experienced, you need to have evidence of those damages. Going to the hospital on the day of the accident and getting all the follow-up care will establish that your injuries are associated with the accident and will help establish the seriousness of your accident.
Tip #2: Retain a Lawyer
Second, you need to retain a lawyer. A lawyer will help you through the process of working with the trucking company's insurance company, and they will help you determine all of the responsible parties you can pursue compensation.
With a truck driving accident, there are usually more responsibility parties at play than just the driver's insurance company. You can also hold their employer responsible, as well as the company whose goods they are hauling if that is a different company. You may even be able to hold their mechanic responsible depending on the reasoning of the accident.
An experienced lawyer will be able to help you determine who should be held responsible and will help you pursue a fair settlement.
Tip #3: Know What You Are Asking For
Finally, you need to not just ask for some random number when it comes to your settlement. You need to add up all your medical bills and costs, as well as things such as lost wages and property damage, in order to come up with a solid figure for the types of damages that can be easily quantified.
Then, you need to work with your attorney to come up with a damage figure for things like pain and suffering, that can be a little harder to quantify.
If you want to get the most possible out of your truck accident settlement, it is important to get medical care on the day of the accident. You need to hire a truck accident injury attorney who can help hold all necessary parties responsible for your needs. You need to have a detailed ask and know what you are looking for in order to get a fair settlement.
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