October 27, 2020 How to Deal With the Trucking Company After an Accident

If you are involved in a truck accident you have to deal with the trucker’s insurance company but you should also hire an attorney.

If you have been involved in a truck accident, then you will have to deal with the trucker’s insurance company. But a better idea is to hire an experienced and successful personal injury attorney to do that for you, such as Oxnard car accident lawyer Kenneth King.

Roadside Decorum

After a truck accident, you will most likely experience a surge of emotions. But it’s important to stay cool, and you will thank yourself later if you do. Your roadside decorum can have a significant impact on your case.

Talking to the Other Driver

Tensions are high after a truck accident, and if one party believes that the other is at-fault then they may start throwing accusations. It’s important never to admit fault on the side of the road and never get into an altercation with other drivers involved, including witnesses. You want your interaction with these other individuals, as well as the police, to be as brief as possible. If you need to wait in your car until the police arrive to avoid any problems, then do so.

Talking to the Police

When the police arrive they will have questions and will speak to all drivers involved as well as witnesses. Anything you say or do can be used against you even if you aren’t under arrest. For example, if the officer notices that you are particularly belligerent towards the other drivers, then they may note this in the police report. If your case makes it to trial, this could have a negative impact on your case. There have also been times and people have implicated themselves on the side of the road. Only answer the questions that they ask you as accurately and descriptively as possible. Do not make up assumptions or explanations as to who you believe is at fault for the accident.

Don’t Talk To The Insurance Company

The insurance companies hire well-trained lawyers to help them save money, and especially during the pandemic they will be even more anxious to delay your settlement or find a reason to not pay out as much as you deserve. It’s important to remember that no matter how authentic or even sympathetic the insurance company sounds, they are not looking out for your best interest the way that your attorney is. You do not want to negotiate with them, or make any sort of statements about your truck accident. When you speak to the insurance company, then you need to have your personal injury attorney with you, or have your in attorney speak on your behalf.

What Your Attorney Needs From You

There are things that you can do to improve your chances of getting the settlement that you want. Your truck accident attorney will guide you through this process more specifically, but these are the typical documents that you will need to provide to them:

• The police report
• Your medical records from the emergency room as well as any specialists or therapists that you went to for follow-up appointments
• Any photos or videos that you took at the scene of the accident: it’s important to take close-up shots of any injuries or damage, as well as wide shots that show both cars as well as their license plates.
• Proof of your income or salary so your attorney can calculate your lost wages

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