One of the biggest mistakes someone can make after being in a truck accident is to treat it like you were just in a car accident, and not in an incident with an 18-wheeler that has far more regulations involving its operation.
A good San Antonio truck accident attorney knows the different laws that govern truck drivers and the trucking companies that manage their fleet. Treating a truck accident claim like a typical automobile accident makes a huge difference in the compensation offered, as well as who would be involved as defendants in the case.
Five Steps to Properly Handling a Truck Accident Claim
Fears Nachawati has plenty of experience handling truck accident claims in the state of Texas, as well as in Denver and Tampa. Below are some steps they believe everyone in a truck accident should take.
- Understand Who is Liable
If you have been in an accident involving a truck and you weren’t at fault, it’s important to understand which parties are liable for your damages and compensation for pain and suffering. This includes not just the truck driver, but also his insurance company, the owner of the truck and the truck driver’s employer. Your lawyer will help discover all that are liable.
- Act Quickly
The trucker’s insurance company is going to move fast in order to limit how much they are liable for. It’s quite possible you’ll receive a settlement offer within days of your accident, well before you or your lawyers are done with your own investigation. The insurance company is looking out for their client – not you, so talk to a San Antonio truck accident attorney before signing anything.
Not only will the insurance company be held responsible for your property damages, lost wages and medical bills, but they’ll also need to pay for your pain and suffering, which could include future medical treatments and permanent disfigurement (including scars).
- Properly Investigate the Accident
One thing a truck accident lawyer knows how to do that you might not is how to investigate the scene of the accident. They’ll talk to witnesses, experts and they’ll look up past cases to see how past incidents were legally handled.
A good attorney will also comb through the police report to make sure there aren’t any inaccuracies, and they’ll do all the talking with the trucking company and their insurance company. You’ll be working your way back from a truck accident, which means the stress over the claim isn’t something you should be dealing with. Get a lawyer to do the work for you.
If you’re looking for a San Antonio truck accident attorney, talk to the team at Fears Nachawati. They’ll help walk you through the steps you should take when making a truck accident claim, and help you understand what type of compensation you should expect. Give them a call at (210) 858-5383, or come down to their downtown San Antonio offices at 111 Soledad, near the River Walk. You can also visit their other Texas offices in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston, as well as their offices in Denver and Tampa.