Common Insurance Issues After a Truck Accident

Any car accident is an upsetting experience. An accident involving a truck, however, is even more serious than your average crash. The sheer size of these vehicles means that you’re at risk of more property damage and severe injuries. Furthermore, trucks often carry heavy or massive cargo. This further increases the risk of damage and injury if something goes wrong with the way that load is secured. Along with this increased size and cargo comes an increase in the amount of insurance converge. If you’re involved in a crash with a truck, you and your truck accident lawyer will probably spend more time interacting with an insurance company than after a normal car accident.

Your attorney will play a critical role in all stages of your truck accident case. From insurance claims to compensation, you’ll want someone on your side who is familiar with the law in surrounding crashes that involve trucks. To speak with a lawyer in the Charlotte area who fits this description, contact Randall & Stump, Criminal Defense Attorneys today. You can schedule a free, confidential consultation by filling out our online form, or by calling us at (980) 237-4579.

A Truck Accident Case May Result in Dealing with Multiple Claims

It is important to remember that, as with any insurance company, truck insurers want you to recover as little as possible. Things can become even further complicated if the truck driver has a different insurance provider than the trucking company. Also, the truck may have a separate insurance policy than the trailer that is being pulled or hauled. This means you’ll have to interact with two companies, both intent on making sure you receive the smallest amount of compensation they can get away with paying you.

Someone Must Have Caused Your Damages for You to Receive Compensation

Truck accident claims follow the same “at-fault” requirements as other personal injury claims. Legally speaking, the driver of the truck must have proximately caused your damages. In simpler terms, this means that even if the truck driver doesn’t hit you directly, the event that causes your injuries must have started with the other driver’s actions.

Of course, North Carolina is one the few states that still recognizes a contributory negligence defense. This means that if it’s determined that you are in any way responsible for the accident that caused your injuries/damages, you cannot recover any compensation, unless it can be shown that the truck driver had the last clear chance to prevent or avoid the collision.

Issues You May Run into After a Truck Accident

Further issues can be caused simply by the scale of a truck accident. The size of a truck increases the potential for other people’s involvement in your accident. You’ll have to make additional considerations when examining liability and contributory negligence. Truck companies also sometimes hire independent contractors as drivers. This further complicates your situation when it comes to assigning liability. In addition, the situation could be different based on what the truck was shipping; some products and substances are stored and transported according to specific, legal regulations. All of these factors are applicable if you’re trying to recover damages after an accident with a truck.

Call a Truck Accident Lawyer from Our Firm Today

If you’re trying to make sense of a truck insurance claim, it helps to talk to an experienced truck accident lawyer. If you’ve been in a collision in the Charlotte area, Randall & Stump, Criminal Defense Attorneys can handle any issues you have. Our lawyers have experience dealing with the complicated laws surrounding truck accident laws, and we fight for you to obtain the compensation you deserve. If you’re not up to fighting your case on your own, we can help.

To schedule a free consultation of your case, contact us today at (980) 237-4579.