If you or a loved one have been involved in a truck accident, the stakes are very high. If you can prove that the trucking company was to blame for the accident — and they are legally responsible for everything that their drivers do on the job — you may receive a large settlement check or jury award.
There is no question that you need a lawyer for a truck accident case. The only thing that may be in doubt is when you should contact an attorney, and the answer is immediately. Our team is available 24/7 to answer your call when you need a truck accident lawyer in North Carolina. Contact us today.
How Can a Truck Accident Lawyer Help?
It is virtually impossible to get the same amount of compensation without a truck accident lawyer. You may not even receive any compensation at all.
The commercial insurance company will think they can take advantage of you for as long as you do not have an attorney representing you. There are many benefits of hiring an attorney for your truck accident case, including the following:
There are high damages in a truck accident case
The main reason why you may be able to receive more money in a truck accident case is because you have been more severely injured. There is more force involved in a crash with an 80,000-pound vehicle that will cause more harm.
In addition, the trucking company will almost always have more insurance coverage to pay for your damages than a passenger car driver. Further, if your damages are high, you may even be able to seize the trucking company’s assets to pay what they owe you.
When there is so much at stake, you need the help of someone who knows the legal process and how to get results.
Truck accidents require a complex investigation
It is difficult enough to investigate a car accident. There are many more moving pieces in a truck accident case.
First, more things can go wrong with a truck that could cause a crash. The truck has sophisticated technologies on board. One technology is the truck’s black box that records key events during the operation of the truck.
There are other pieces of data that could impact your case, such as the truck’s maintenance and the driver’s safety record.
A truck accident attorney will continue to gather evidence throughout the case to put you in the strongest possible legal position.
You must identify all liable parties
The trucking company is the most liable defendant in the case because they are responsible for the negligent actions of their employees. There may be other parties who were to blame for the accident that you can also hold liable.
In some cases, your lawsuit could be against a third party, such as the manufacturer of a defective part on the truck. You should file a lawsuit against everyone who was responsible for the truck crash.
You do not have to worry about who pays what towards your verdict. Your attorney conducts an extensive investigation to learn who all may be responsible.
The trucking company’s insurance lawyers will be combative
Given the amount of money that could be on the line, the insurance company is going to pay a great deal of attention to your case. When you file a lawsuit, they will hire an insurance defense firm that has experience in dealing with cases like yours.
These attorneys may leave no stone unturned in fighting your case, especially because they want repeat business from the insurance company. You need to take on tough attorneys with one of your own who will fight to defend your legal rights and maximize your financial compensation.
There may be punitive damages
When a trucking company is involved in a lawsuit, there is a chance that the jury may assess them punitive damages. The jury both wants to punish the trucking company and deter others from engaging in the same conduct.
Punitive damages can be extremely high when the jury thinks that the trucking company was grossly negligent or reckless. In some cases, juries have issued high enough verdicts that put the trucking company out of business.
A lawyer can argue that you deserve punitive damages based on the extent of the negligence.
You must prove fault in a truck accident
In order to qualify for truck accident compensation, you must prove that the truck driver was negligent. Proving negligence requires evidence. The insurance company may try to deny liability for the truck accident, or they may try to blame you.
Your lawyer will conduct a complete investigation of the accident and assemble proof that shows what happened. They will learn what the truck driver did and be able to show why it fell short of what was expected of them under the circumstances.
It does not cost you anything upfront to hire a truck accident lawyer
You do not have to pay anything out of your pocket when you retain a truck accident lawyer for your case. A truck accident lawyer will work for you on a contingency basis, and your obligation to pay them only arises if and when you win your case.
You do not have to worry about having to pay your legal counsel if you lose your case. There is nothing that goes directly from you to the lawyer.
Contact a Wilmington Truck Accident Attorney Today
Given these reasons and benefits, it should be apparent that you need a truck accident lawyer.
When you do need a legal representative, consider the experienced lawyers at Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys.
We get results for clients like you, taking the commercial insurance companies to task when they will not do the right thing. There are only so many games that they can play when your legal rights are on the line. To speak with a truck accident attorney at a free initial consultation, you can send us a message through our website, or you can call us today at 910-405-7751.
