What Can I Do to Protect My Rights After a Truck Accident?
It is imperative that you do what you can to protect your rights after a truck accident. Accident victims who suffered injuries because of a truck driver’s negligence generally have the right to hold the responsible party accountable and pursue a settlement or other compensation. However, certain actions could put this right in jeopardy.
To protect your rights, you must be careful about what you say and do and proceed with your insurance claim with the knowledge that the insurance carrier may try to use anything you say against you to reduce the value of your case or deny your claim. In general, refrain from admitting fault or declaring that you are not hurt until you have fully investigated your accident and your injuries.
Protect Your Rights by Focusing on the General Facts
Any time you talk to anyone about your accident—from initial contact with the police who respond to the scene through discussing with the liable party’s insurer—it is important that you are aware of what you are saying and how it may be used. You should never accept blame for the accident, or for any action that might be construed as contributing to the accident, without fully understanding the causes of the accident.
It is also important that you do not tell the first responders, your own insurer, or any other party that you are not hurt. It can take days or even weeks for symptoms to appear. You should see a doctor to ensure you do not have any hidden injuries as soon as possible after an accident.
Do not post details or information about your accident on social media, and do not post pictures of yourself engaging in recreational activities in the following days. This could be used to downplay your injuries and reduce your damages.
Lastly, use caution when speaking with your insurance company or the liable party’s insurer in detail. Especially if you suffered injuries, insurance companies may try to reduce the amount they have to pay out in your case by using your own statements against you.
You may also wish to contact a law firm that handles truck accident cases for a free consultation. If you decide to work with a lawyer, they can handle all communications on your behalf and protect your rights while you focus on healing and returning your life back to normal.
How a Lawyer Can Protect Your Rights
When you work with a truck accident lawyer on your case, they may be able to go to work protecting their rights as soon as they sign on for representation.
Your lawyer may be able to:
- Gather evidence of the responsible party’s liability
- Shield you from accusations that you caused the accident
- Investigate your damages and assign them a value
- Handle settlement negotiations on your behalf
- Take your case to trial if need be.
A lawyer may be able to protect your rights in other ways, such as identifying, tracking, and meeting all applicable deadlines in your case. This is especially important in regard to the statute of limitations. According to your state’s statute of limitations, a legal time limit generally applies to filing a wrongful death or personal injury lawsuit.
Call Distasio Law Firm for a Free Consultation
Distasio Law Firm helps truck accident victims seek compensation for the damages they suffered. We may be able to help you recover compensation for your medical treatment, missed time at work, pain and suffering, and more.
Recovering from truck accident injuries and dealing with the related financial strain is stressful enough. You should not have to try to protect yourself from the insurance company’s tactics as well. Our team manages all parts of the insurance claims process for our clients, including all communications with the insurance carriers involved.
If you were hurt in a truck accident, call (813) 259-0022 today for a free consultation. A member of our team may be able to tell you what we can do to protect your rights after a truck accident today.
Distasio Law Firm represents clients on a contingency-fee basis with no up-front payments necessary. We do not collect attorney’s fees unless and until our clients recover compensation in a settlement offer our court awards.