The massive size of a semi-truck can cause catastrophic devastation when one of these rigs is involved in an accident. For other motorists, this means the life that they once enjoyed can be stripped from them, leaving them with painful and oftentimes disabling injuries, emotional and psychological turmoil, and financial disaster.
If you or a loved one are experiencing this reality now, then you’re probably looking for the best way to protect your interests, obtain accountability, and recover compensation. A personal injury lawsuit might provide the vehicle you need to obtain those goals.
Yet, truck accident personal injury lawsuits aren’t always as easy as they seem. In fact, there are several missteps that can be made along the way that could jeopardize your claim if you’re not careful. That’s why in this post we want to look at some of those errors. That way you know what you need to be on alert for and how to avoid mistakes that could cost you the compensation and closure you need.
Commonly made mistakes in truck accident cases
Even if your case seems straightforward, there are several mistakes that can be made and that put your claim at risk. This includes the following:
- Not taking action against all responsible parties: Sure, you’ll want to file a claim against the negligent trucker who caused your accident, but you’ll also want to take action against their employer if you can. These truck companies have a bigger pool of resources from which to pay you for your damages, so by taking action against them you might increase your chances of recovering the compensation you need. Even if the trucker who caused your wreck is an independent contractor, really assess the relationship between them and the employer to see if they should be classified as an employee.
- Minimizing your damages: If you want to recover compensation for all your losses, then you can’t skimp when it comes to tracking your damages. Keep a running list of all expenses, retain medical records, and keep a journal where you openly and honestly detail the pain you’re experiencing and how your injuries have negatively impacted your life. Don’t try to tough out your injuries to avoid medical care or look stronger than you are. This will just come back to bite you in your personal injury case.
- Admitting fault: After your accident, you don’t want to say anything that can be construed as taking on any blame for your accident. Even offhand statements that you didn’t intend to be taken seriously can result in your award being denied.
- Giving in too quickly: Truckers, truck companies, and their insurers want to avoid as much liability as possible. As a result, they’re probably going to try to quickly settle your claim for as little as possible. Although you might be enticed by quick resolution, don’t fall for it. Be sure to advocate for what you deserve, especially given that many of these initial settlement offers are for far less than the damages actually suffered.
Advocate for what you deserve in your truck accident personal injury case
The outcome of your personal injury case can define what your life looks like for years to come. With that in mind, you can’t cut corners in the development of your case. You need to be careful with how you act after your wreck, and you need thoroughly prepare your legal strategy while anticipating the defense’s arguments. By doing so, you’ll hopefully position yourself for a successful claim, which thereby will spur your recovery forward and assist you in reclaiming your life.