When Should I Call a Truck Accident Lawyer?

You should promptly call a truck accident lawyer after getting hurt in a truck accident you believe someone else caused. Although you are not legally required to retain representation, doing so can prove valuable as you seek full and fair compensation for your losses.

Holding the trucker or motor carrier liable can be challenging, especially if they dispute fault or the crash involves multiple negligent parties. You don’t have to pursue your case alone. An experienced lawyer can determine your options and pursue them on your behalf.

Let’s explore some reasons you might need the help of a good truck accident lawyer.

The Truck Accident Involves Multiple Parties

In most car accidents, fault rests with one or more of the drivers involved. Truck accidents differ significantly because they often involve multiple at-fault parties. Some aren’t even in the accident but play some role in ensuring others’ safety and preventing injuries.

Without a background in truck accident law, you might remain unaware of all the parties that could be liable for your injuries. These parties might include:

• Another motorist
• Cargo loading companies
• Governmental entities
• Mechanics and maintenance workers
• Owners of the cab or trailer
• Part and vehicle manufacturers
• Truck drivers
• Trucking companies

A truck accident attorney knows how to investigate a truck accident to determine all the potentially liable parties, as well as how to navigate the complexities of federal and state-specific laws regarding the trucking industry.

You Don’t Know What to Do Next

The aftermath of a trucking collision can be overwhelming. Once the shock wears off, you wonder how you’ll heal your injuries and what steps you should take next.

Hiring an attorney takes the guesswork out of the equation. Instead of trying to decide how to handle your injury claim and accident investigation yourself, your attorney can take over for you. That way, you can focus on your recovery while they focus on getting you the money you need for your financial security.

You Could Have Significant Losses

A truck accident can cause catastrophic injuries and damage. Even low-speed crashes can total small cars and leave the occupants in need of emergency medical care. This care costs money, as do many other losses associated with truck accidents.

Victims often rack up massive economic and noneconomic losses, such as:

• Emotional distress
• Hospital and medical bills
• Loss of income
• Lost earning capacity
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Vehicle repair or replacement costs

Your attorney can also account for possible future losses from permanent injuries, chronic pain, or ongoing care or assistance. Covering your immediate expenses isn’t enough. You must also calculate future costs you’ll incur after resolving your case so you don’t have to pay for anything out of pocket.

In short, you need a truck accident attorney to calculate the value of your case so you don’t pursue insufficient compensation, given your losses.

Your Injury Could Keep You from Work

You might be unable to work after a truck accident. Some injuries cause physical and mental limitations preventing accident victims from completing their job-related duties. An attorney can help you pursue compensation for your lost wages if your injury impacts your occupational abilities. They can review previous paystubs, tax returns, and other financial documentation to determine your usual income and calculate how much you have lost as a consequence of the truck accident. They can also estimate the income you won’t make in the future if an injury leaves you with a permanent or disabling condition.

The Insurance Company Isn’t Helpful

More often than not, insurance carriers don’t accommodate accident victims’ needs. They want to avoid paying claims whenever possible because it saves them money. That means they will search for evidence to show you are at fault for the crash, your injury isn’t as severe as you claim, or the settlement you need is minimal.

A skilled truck accident lawyer knows how to fight against an insurer who tries to reduce the value of an injury claim or deny it altogether. They can obtain valuable evidence to establish liability and prove the extent of your injury and losses.

Legal assistance is especially helpful if you have to deal with multiple insurance companies. Sometimes, you must file more than one claim to hold numerous people liable. Juggling different claims is stressful. Your lawyer can tackle each and aggressively negotiate for full and fair settlements.

You Could Be Partially Responsible for the Crash

You should hire an attorney immediately after a truck accident if you believe your actions somehow contributed. In New York, pure comparative negligence applies to personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. This rule allows you to pursue claims even when you are partly at fault, but it also allows the jury to reduce your monetary award proportionate to your percentage of fault. In other words, if the jury finds you to be 20 percent at fault for an accident that left you with $100,000 in losses, it would deduct 20 percent from your award, leaving you with $80,000 in compensation.

Because the jury determining you’re partly responsible for your injury will diminish your compensable losses, you’ll want to work with an experienced lawyer. Your lawyer can fight back against the other parties’ attempts to hold you to blame for the accident, helping you demand every cent you’re owed.

Let a Dedicated Truck Accident Lawyer Fight for You

Handling a truck accident case on your own can be frustrating, even expensive. If you don’t know what you’re doing, the person responsible for your injuries might get away with their misconduct. An experienced lawyer can guide you in the right direction and pursue the compensation you deserve on your behalf, helping you hold the negligent party financially liable.

The attorneys with Finz & Finz, P.C. have over three decades of experience representing injured New Yorkers they can put at your disposal. When you work with us, you will receive aggressive advocacy and personalized services until your case is resolved. Call us at 855-TOP-FIRM for a free consultation with a truck accident lawyer in New York.