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How Can I Help Build a Strong Truck Accident Case?

Cincinnati Truck Accident Lawyers at the Wolterman Law Office Help Truck Accident Survivors.

Although accidents happen daily, it is the ones involving trucks that can be particularly severe. Serious or debilitating injuries, high repair costs, and other major losses are expected when involved in a truck accident. However, there are steps you could take to help your accident case reach the best possible outcome. 

Seek Legal Help

Following the accident, your first step is perhaps the most important: contacting an attorney. An experienced attorney is vital, especially for cases involving large trucks. While an attorney can help present evidence and your arguments should your claim reach trial, they could also protect your rights and give you a good understanding of what to expect.

An attorney can help you with other matters, such as collecting evidence to support your claim. Although it may appear that the truck driver is liable for the accident, there could be other parties as well.

Understand the Value of Your Case

Speaking with a lawyer will give you a better understanding of what to expect and what kind of compensation you can potentially get for your injuries. To get a full grasp of the compensation you may receive, you will need to gather some information for your attorney:

  • Medical expenses: It is possible that compensation for your medical bills will be a large portion of your overall settlement, depending on the severity of your injuries. Medical bills can come from a variety of sources, such as emergency treatment, surgeries, hospitalization, and physical or occupational therapy. Furthermore, you could also get compensation for medical equipment you may need to help you get around, like a wheelchair or cane.  
  • Lost wages: It is common for truck accident survivors to suffer serious injuries, which means lost time from work. You may be out of work entirely, or you may be on a modified schedule and must attend therapy sessions and appointments. You can claim the time you lost at work and your earning potential should you become permanently injured.
  • Pain and suffering: Pain and suffering is generally calculated based on your medical bills, the severity of your injuries, and other factors. You could be suffering from emotional distress or ongoing pain stemming from your injuries. These are matters that you could discuss with your attorney.

Do Not Accept an Initial Settlement Offer

Although you may want to receive your compensation right away or want the entire ordeal to end, it will likely be beneficial to not accept the insurance company’s initial settlement offer. Many injuries that occur in a truck accident may take days or weeks to surface, and you will not receive compensation for them should you accept their offer right away. When you receive the offer, take your time and discuss your options with your attorney first before making any decisions.

Follow Your Attorney’s Advice

Your attorney will have your best interests in mind. When they advise you on your claim and offer suggestions to help the matter, it will be beneficial to follow their advice, such as:

  • Social media posts: Be careful what you post on social media, especially when you have been injured in an accident and there is a dispute on your claim. You want to limit the information you share about the accident and your injuries because it may be used against you in the future.
  • Communicating with the insurance company: You attorney will go over what you should or should not say to the insurance company and will likely advise you to keep your communication with them at a minimum. You can direct all calls to your attorney.
  • When to accept settlement offer: Your attorney will know when it is best to accept a settlement offer.

Identify All Liable Parties

It may not just be the truck driver who is liable for the accident, as there are multiple factors that could have played a role as well. Filing a personal injury claim against multiple parties may increase the amount of compensation you can potentially receive. A few possible defendants include the trucking company that maintains the vehicle, the parts manufacturer, or the company that loaded the truck.

Start Immediately

The longer you wait to start your injury claim, the more difficult it will be to recover compensation. Also, it makes it more difficult to collect vital evidence from the scene, or even other items that may get lost in time. The sooner you start the process, the better chance of a successful outcome.

Steps to Take After an Accident

Before contacting a lawyer, there are a few steps to take care of at the scene of the accident that will be beneficial to you and your claim. You should follow these steps following any type of accident:

  • Get medical help: Even if you do not feel injured or the damage was minor, it is a good idea to receive medical attention following an accident. Some truck accident injuries may not be immediately obvious.
  • Gather evidence: Take photos and videos of the scene, especially of the damage that was done. You may also be able to gather surveillance footage from nearby businesses as well. 
  • Witness information: Witness information is vital, so be sure to get their information and their accounts, which will be useful in building your case.
  • Call the police: You want to get a police report supporting your case. A police report will have details about the accident.
  • Call an attorney: Additionally, speaking with a truck accident lawyer is best, especially if you have serious injuries.

Cincinnati Truck Accident Lawyers at the Wolterman Law Office Help Truck Accident Survivors

If you have been injured in an accident involving a commercial truck, then contact one of our Cincinnati truck accident lawyers at the Wolterman Law Office right away. Our experienced team has years of experience with these types of cases. Call us at 513-488-1135 or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Loveland, Ohio, we serve clients in Hamilton County, Fairfield, Norwood, and Forest Park.