If you are considering hiring a lawyer to help you pursue damages after a truck crash, you need to know what a truck accident lawyer does. You can expect them to investigate the cause of your accident, identify the at-fault party, and collect supporting evidence. You can also expect them to represent you during settlement negotiations and fight for the best possible settlement.
Your Rutherfordton truck accident lawyer will cover any fees and costs associated with building your case at no upfront cost. They will also interview lay and expert witnesses and deal with the insurance company. Another thing hiring a lawyer will do is let you focus on getting better without losing valuable time preparing your insurance claim or lawsuit.
A Truck Accident Lawyer Will Investigate the Details of Your Case
Investigating a trucking accident is a time-consuming, potentially daunting task. It is not one you have to manage on your own. Your lawyer can:
- Collect evidence
- Speak to witnesses
- Consult experts
- Obtain a police report
- Visit the accident scene
Your lawyer will also consult relevant specialists, including trucking industry, financial, and medical experts.
Your Attorney Can Identify All Potentially Liable Parties
Truck accident claims are complicated since they can involve more than one at-fault party. Potentially, financial liability could belong to:
- The commercial truck driver
- The trucking company
- A truck repair or maintenance company
- The cargo loaders
- The truck’s manufacturer
- Truck parts manufacturer
Your lawyer will identify all liable parties and will deal with all insurance companies to achieve the best possible financial recovery for you and your family.
A Truck Accident Attorney Will Build a Strong Collection of Supporting Evidence
Your injury claim will rely on evidence to substantiate your case and support your financial compensation request. Your truck accident attorney will collect evidence for you that includes:
- Police report, describing the accident’s causes and contributing factors
- Medical records, describing your injuries and their cause
- Medical care bills, describing your current and future treatment costs
- Proof of income, describing the value of your current and future lost wages
- Photos, depicting your physical injuries, both vehicles, and the accident scene
Your legal team will collect evidence and organize your case file. While they do, you can focus on getting better.
Your Attorney Will Establish the Legally Required Elements of Negligence
To recover damages, you must prove the at-fault party’s actions meet the following criteria that define negligence:
- Duty of care
- Breach of duty
- Causation
- Damages
These components enable you to pursue fair compensation for damages, identify the at-fault party or parties, and refute any allegations that you caused or contributed to the accident.
Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me 828.286.3866
A Lawyer Will Document Recoverable Damages for Your Truck Accident Claim
Assessing your financial recovery after an accident with a commercial truck often starts with your economic damages since they are accompanied by bills and receipts. These tangible damages can include:
- Past and future medical bills
- Past and future loss of income
- Property damage or total loss
- Diminished property value
You can also recover non-economic damages that can be harder to document on your own. Your lawyer will collect medical records, future prognosis, and expert testimonials to prove the value of these non-economic damages:
- Permanent disability and disfigurement
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional anguish
- Diminished quality of life
If your family lost a loved one in a fatal truck accident, you could also recover wrongful death damages. Your lawyer will seek compensation for the costs of your loved one’s funeral and burial and your loss of their financial and familial support.
Your Lawyer Can Help You Comply with All Notification and Filing Deadlines
In North Carolina, you have a limited time to file a truck accident lawsuit. Filing your lawsuit too late could result in its dismissal without being heard, or you could be barred from filing it altogether. Accordingly, you generally have:
- Three years to file your personal injury lawsuit, per G.S. § 1-52
- Two years to file your wrongful death claim, per G.S. § 1-53
You may also encounter additional notification and filing deadlines if a governmental or municipal agency is involved in your case. A lawyer can help you understand, interpret, and comply with the deadlines set forth by the applicable statute of limitations.
Attorneys for Truck Accident Victims Communicate with the Insurance Company
A major part of dealing with the at-fault party’s insurance company after an accident is communication. In truck accident claims, this can be even more complex since it can mean dealing with multiple insurers. To streamline this process for you, your experienced truck accident lawyer will:
- Manage all emails and phone calls
- Manage all claim forms and paperwork
- Respond to all information requests
- Submit evidence that supports your claim
- Carefully weigh each truck accident settlement offer
In addition to dealing with the responsible party’s insurance company, your lawyer can help you deal with your own insurer, if necessary. This usually applies if the truck driver or trucking company was uninsured or underinsured.
An Attorney Will Manage Your Truck Accident Claim at No Upfront Cost
The cost of a lawyer to handle your truck accident case will not add to your post-accident financial burden as they will more than likely be working on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee agreement means your law firm will cover the costs of:
- Collecting evidence
- Consulting experts
- Court filing costs
- Deposition expenses
- Discovery costs
The law firm will not request, accept, or expect compensation unless they obtain it for you. If you do not recover a fair settlement, you will not owe any fees at all.
Learn More About What Our Truck Accident Attorneys Can Do for You
If you or a loved one was injured in a recent truck accident, our law firm will help you seek maximum compensation for your injuries and related expenses. We will clarify your rights and what our truck accident lawyers can do for you.
Learn more about the steps to financial recovery by contacting our evaluation team at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC today.