A commercial truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. That huge amount of weight can do serious damage in a crash—and these accidents happen all the time in the Cumming area. If you or a member of your family were the victim of a semi truck accident, you are not alone. You may have the legal right to recover a substantial amount of money from the driver, the trucking company, or other parties. That money can be crucial in helping you pay for the medical treatment you need—and in putting your life back together.
We can help you. Our attorneys know that different laws apply to truck drivers compared to those who drive passenger vehicles. We also know how to find out if a violation of those laws occurred and caused your accident. Let us put you in touch with experienced attorneys who will listen to you can put your needs first. We will give you a free consultation to help you get started. Give us a call at (404) 341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
How does a trucking insurance company respond to an accident?
Commercial semi-trucks travel millions of miles of road. In all of that time that they spend traveling, truck drivers are bound to get in a few accidents. In fact, the U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that roughly 500,000 semi-truck crashes happen every year. With all of those accidents, commercial truck insurance companies are practically experts at defending these semi-truck and 18-wheeler cases.
As soon as the insurance company hears about a semi-truck accident, it assigns a claims adjuster to the case. The claims adjuster will head up the investigation about the incident. They will talk to the semi driver, take photos, examine the police report, and take other steps to find out exactly what happened. They then make an initial determination about who was at fault.
In most cases, the insurance company will contact you to try to get a statement. They want you to have a recorded conversation with them as soon as possible after the accident so they can use it later—and it will often hurt you more than it helps you. They want this statement for a few reasons, including:
- They want to undermine your injuries. When you are first involved in a truck accident, you likely don’t know the extent of your wounds right away. You may have a general idea, but even your doctor may not have specific information. In your statement, you may downplay your injuries because you honestly don’t know what kind of long-term effects they may have on your or your family. By recording you stating that your injuries are “not that bad,” the insurance company can use your words against you in the future.
- They want to “lock you in” to one explanation of what happened. Semi-truck accident cases can take years to complete. Over time, your memory will fade and what you remember about the collision may not match up with what actually happened. Part of the reason an insurance company wants to take your statement is that they want your story before your memory fades. While there is nothing wrong with this motive, the process they use to get the information can be flawed. As a victim, you may not know that certain facts are important to your case until after you hire an attorney. And, evidence about what happened may only become available after your lawyer puts an investigator on the job. If you don’t have a lawyer before you give a statement, you can leave out vital information that could otherwise increase your likelihood of getting a favorable settlement offer.
- They want more detail. A truck driver can’t see a lot of what is going on around them. An insurance company may want to take your statement to get a better idea of what happened just before, during, and after the accident took place. Having this information can fill in holes in what their driver remembers or saw. This can help you or hurt you, depending on the case.
Remember: you are not required to give a recorded statement to the insurance company—but they will make sure the pressure is on to get you to do so.
The insurance company may also contact you to talk about settlement before, during, or after this investigation. You don’t have to accept any offer they give you—and you should speak with an 18-wheeler lawyer before you agree to anything.
What if my semi-truck or 18-wheeler accident happened months or years ago?
It’s a good idea to talk to a semi-truck lawyer as soon as you can after your accident. Research indicates that the sooner you involve an attorney, the higher your settlement or award at trial is likely to be. But, even if you waited awhile before considering whether to get a lawyer, you can often still file a lawsuit.
Georgia has what is known as a “statute of limitations” that sets out how long you have to file most types of legal claims. This limitations period for most semi-truck accidents is two years from the date of the accident. That “timer” can be paused in some unusual circumstances—and your lawyer will be able to walk you through those.
Keep in mind that although two years may seem like a long time, your lawyer will still have to do a great deal of investigation to understand what happened in your accident. That type of information gathering can take a lot of time. You also want to build in some time to negotiate with the insurance company before you actually have to file a lawsuit. Sometimes your attorney and the insurance company can work out an agreeable settlement amount without ever having to spend money on actually filing a formal claim.
Talk to a Cumming Semi-Truck & 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer for Free
If you have been involved in a truck accident, you need someone who knows the laws and can call out a truck driver or trucking company who violated them. Our lawyers have your back—and we want to help you get the money damages you deserve after an accident. Let us give you a FREE consultation. Call us at (404) 341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to schedule your free consultation today.
