Truck accidents fall under serious and deadly collisions on the road. Every year, around 3% of all truck accidents result in fatalities and 32% leave victims with injuries. While filing a claim after any accident can be stressful, truck accident claims come with added complexities.
If you are involved in a truck accident, it is important to understand the challenges that may come your way. However, you do not have to handle the claim process on your own. Working with a truck accident lawyer at the Coates Law Office will ensure that everything is handled smoothly.
Below are some complexities you may face.
Multiple Liable Parties
What makes truck accidents complicated is that more than one party might be responsible. Unlike a typical car accident, where one or two drivers are involved, truck accidents can bring several parties into the picture, such as:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- Loading crew
- Manufacturer of faulty parts
Each of these parties will likely have its own insurance company and legal team. This means more time spent pointing fingers, with every side trying as much as possible to avoid blame. The process can drag on for months, making it harder to get the compensation you deserve.
Federal and State Regulations
Trucking companies and drivers follow strict rules set by federal and state governments. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has guidelines that cover the number of hours a truck driver can drive without rest and how often a truck should be inspected.
If any of these rules were broken and led to the crash, it could make a big difference in your case. Figuring this out takes time and requires extensive knowledge of the law and the help of legal experts who understand how these regulations work. Imagine trying to handle all this on your own. It will be incredibly overwhelming.
Dealing with Commercial Insurance Companies
Trucking companies usually carry large insurance policies worth even millions of dollars. Because so much money is on the line, these insurance companies tend to fight hard to minimize payouts. They may look for reasons to deny your claim entirely or offer a low settlement quickly, hoping that you will take it before realizing how much your case is worth.
This can be very frustrating for victims who are trying to focus on recovery. It is not uncommon for insurance adjusters to use tactics that are designed to confuse or discourage you.
Collecting Evidence Can be Difficult
To build a strong case after any type of accident, you will need solid evidence. In a truck accident, this can include the truck’s black box, maintenance records, driver logs, and surveillance footage. The problem is that most of this evidence is in the hands of the trucking company. Therefore, if you do not take the right steps quickly, some of the evidence may “disappear.”
Acting fast is something an experienced lawyer can help with. They know what to look for and how to legally request important documents before it is too late.
Border Lines and Jurisdictional Complexities
Trucks cross plenty of state lines. That means when an accident happens, it may not be clear which state laws will apply. For example, a trucking company may be based in Texas, but an accident ends up happening in Louisiana, and the victim lives in Mississippi.
Each of these states could have different laws about insurance, how much time you have to file a claim, and so on. Understanding where to file a claim and how to navigate the different state laws can be very confusing.
Conclusion
Truck accident claims are not simple. These cases require a careful and experienced approach. That is why hiring a lawyer to handle your claim helps to protect your rights and improve the chances of getting fair compensation.
