How Can a Lawyer Help If I’m in a Norfolk Truck Accident?

Commercial truck collisions can cause severe injuries to the victims. Learn how a Norfolk truck accident lawyer can help protect your right to compensation.

Many trucks operate every day across the United States, transporting different goods. Truck drivers are more accident-prone when they are pressured to work long hours. Trucks are larger and heavier than cars, so they do more damage in crashes. It takes just one tired or distracted driver to change your life instantly.

While trucks are essential for transporting goods, truck drivers need to operate with care and protect other road users from the risk of harm. When they fail in their responsibility, they are liable for the damages.

In addition, getting into auto accidents can have devasting consequences on all the parties involved. It can result in catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries or wrongful death.

The legal issues surrounding motor vehicle accidents in Norfolk, Virginia, are complex, and proving liability can be difficult. Also, because most trucks are commercially owned, several parties can be liable for the accident. 

Each party may have different insurance providers, so seeking compensation can be complicated. If you are injured in a truck accident, a skilled Norfolk truck accident lawyer can provide you with excellent legal services.

Norfolk Truck Accident Attorney Explains Steps to Take After a Truck Collision

The stakes in any truck collision in Norfolk, VA, are high. What you say or do in the moments following the crash can impact your insurance claim or lawsuit against the responsible party. If you are involved in a truck collision, you must act quickly to protect your compensatory damages rights.

However, you need to prove a compelling case that links your injuries and losses directly to the crash. If a commercial vehicle is involved, the trucking company and their private insurance company may act quickly to secure evidence and conceal the driver’s fault for the crash. So, to succeed in your case, you need to gather credible evidence, beginning at the accident scene.

Below are steps to take to protect your rights during the legal process.

Call the Police

You should call the police immediately regardless of whether the collision is minor or severe. Upon the arrival of the police officer, give a factual report of what happened. Don’t speculate on the cause of the accident or say anything that suggests you are to blame. 

The officer will collect evidence and detail the findings of their investigation in a police crash report. They will also speak with witnesses at the scene. This helps to preserve evidence and establish records of the event. When evaluating your injury claims, the insurance company and personal injury law firm will rely on the report to determine fault and damage. 

Get Immediate Medical Help

Trucks weigh 30 times more than a car; thus, the impact of a collision can cause a wide range of catastrophic injuries. Unfortunately, shock and adrenaline can mask your pains after a crash. One of the grave mistakes truck crash victims make is to delay getting medical treatment. Your sense of urgency can help physicians diagnose the extent of your injuries and treat them accordingly.

In addition, delaying or refusing medical care can affect your right to compensation. Insurance companies can be vicious and are ready to fight to keep you from getting the compensation you deserve. As a result, they may claim that your injuries are not serious or they occurred under different circumstances.

Diagnosing, treating, and documenting accident injuries can be complex. It is better to start early to avoid making mistakes. In addition, your Norfolk truck accident lawyer can work with your doctor to determine the monetary amount to be demanded. 

Take Photos of the Scene and Injuries

A truck collision happens in split seconds, and the details can become fuzzy in the resulting chaos. Therefore, taking pictures and videos of the crash scene, your injuries, the damaged vehicles, skid marks, and tire tracks is critical. You preserve valuable evidence by doing so.

Pictures speak a thousand words and can be used to determine who was at fault. They also affect your injury claim. Suppose you cannot move around because of your wounds and the shock; ask someone to help you. If possible, get videos of witnesses giving their statements on your phone. 

Get Vital Information About the Truck Driver and Witnesses At the Scene

Obtain all the identifying information of the truck driver. When doing so, don’t apologize or discuss fault. Every statement can be used against you by the adverse party. Also, get the contact of witnesses who witnessed the accident. Their unbiased account of events can be used to support your version, and you may need them to testify on your behalf in court.

The information you get should include:

  • The truck driver’s name, phone number, and address
  • Driver’s insurance information
  • The name of the trucking company 
  • Driver’s license plate number
  • A detailed description of the truck
  • The load that was hauled

Don’t Sign Anything or Give a Recorded Statement to the Trucking Company or Its Insurance Carriers

In the days following the crash, you may be approached by the trucking company’s insurance providers. Trucking companies and their insurers will do everything they can to avoid liability. In addition, they are aware that they will likely face a big payout if their driver is at fault. So they will try to deny your claim or make a quick settlement without you taking them to court. 

Experienced accident lawyers know that insurance companies can take advantage of vulnerable accident victims. Don’t jump at the offer made by the insurance company. Get a lawyer to assess the scope of the damages to determine the worth of your compensation benefits.

Also, don’t give any recorded statement without a Norfolk truck accident lawyer present. Any statement you make can impact your chances of winning your accident lawsuit. Avoid signing any document without legal representation. You may end up signing away your rights without you knowing.

Hire a Norfolk Truck Accident Lawyer

Protect your rights to recover financial compensation by hiring a lawyer. The attorney will handle your claims process while you focus on recovering. Having truck accident lawyers by your side shows your seriousness. It will also prevent the auto insurance company from taking advantage of you.

Proving Liability and Fault in Truck Accident Cases

Truck crashes are different from automobile accidents. Aside from the fact that it happens like other vehicular accidents, trucks are governed by complex federal state regulations not applicable to other vehicles. Experienced lawyers know the rules applicable to your case.

Again, several parties can be potentially held liable for truck wrecks. Liability doesn’t always rest with commercial truck drivers. As a result, there can be different investigators, insurance adjusters, and defense attorneys, depending on the circumstance. This makes Virginia truck accident cases complicated to handle without a lawyer involved.

Determining which parties are liable requires in-depth investigation. While it may seem rational to blame the driver, other parties can also cause the crash. For example, the cargo loaders can be responsible for overloading or improperly loading the truck. 

The truck drivers can also be overworked from the unrealistic demands placed on them by their employers. A Norfolk truck accident lawyer will thoroughly investigate your case and determine which parties to go after.

Potentially Liable Parties in a Truck Accident

Potentially liable parties for a truck accident in Norfolk include:

  • The driver
  • The trucking company
  • Truck manufacturer
  • Freight broker
  • Cargo loaders
  • Truck maintenance company 
  • Government agency

You need a Norfolk truck accident lawyer with grit to fight against the negligent parties and their insurance providers.

How a Norfolk Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help if You Are Involved in a Truck Accident

There are several ways an experienced attorney can help if you are involved in a Norfolk truck accident. While we cannot list them all here, here are a few of the most critical ones.

Explain Your Legal Option

When a truck accident occurs, the first thing is to have a consultation with a law firm. During your initial consultation, a lawyer will listen to your side of the story and examine the situation. Upon careful analysis, they will explain your options and implement the best legal strategy for the entire process.

Evaluate the Potential Value of Your Case

The value of your truck accident case depends on the severity of the crash and the extent of your injuries. Also, it is likely worth more than you think. A Norfolk truck accident lawyer with extensive experience is in the best position to evaluate the worth of your claim. They will calculate your economic and non-economic damages to recover maximum compensation.

Gather Evidence for Your Personal Injury Claim

Just because you can file a claim does not mean you will receive compensation automatically. You need to have strong evidence to back your claims. A lawyer will use their own investigators to uncover the incident. They will gather evidence such as the police report, witness statements, medical records, download black box data, etc.

Fight Against the Insurance Company

Insurance companies are businesses first above anything else. They will try to weasel their way out of paying you what you deserve. Insurance providers are never on your side and will fight tooth and nail to deny or limit the liability their clients owe you. 

It is not advisable to deal with them without a lawyer. Having a lawyer by your side levels the playing field with them. They will handle all communications and settlement negotiations. The insurance company will be more open to negotiating a fair settlement than risk an expensive court battle.

File a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Where parties fail to reach an agreeable settlement figure, you have an option to go to court. Your Norfolk truck accident lawyer will prepare all the legal processes and represent you at trial.

Talk to a Norfolk Truck Accident Lawyer Today!

Truck accidents are life-threatening occurrences. Injury victims have a right to get financial compensation for their wounds. If you or a loved one is injured in a truck crash, get legal help immediately. 

The law office of Virginia Injury Law will aggressively fight to protect your rights. We will use our combined experience to hold the at-fault parties accountable, so you get fair compensation for your wounds and losses. Schedule a free consultation with a Norfolk truck accident attorney today.