Do I need to contact a lawyer if I was involved in a truck accident?
- If you are in a hospital recovering from injuries, have a family member contact an attorney to visit you in the hospital.
- If you already have an attorney, you should contact him or her as soon as possible. If you are at the accident scene, the attorney can investigate the scene of the accident and collect valuable evidence.
- The longer you wait to contact an attorney, the harder it is to investigate the accident. Keep in mind that each state has a statute of limitations limiting the amount of time after an accident that a victim has to file a claim against another driver, or the driver’s employer.
Immediately contact an attorney when:
o An injury has occurred where there has been serious injury (broken bones / hospitalization) or where injuries are likely to be permanent (paralysis);
o A death has resulted from the accident;
o Fault is clearly an issue;
o Other parties were involved such as pedestrians or other vehicles;
o The accident occurred in a construction area;
o A police report does not accurately describe the accident and puts you at fault;
o Important technical, legal or medical issues are involved;
o The limits of your liability insurance are low,
o You have no insurance, or your insurance company suggests that you did not pay your premium.
o Your insurer starts “acting funny.”
o Your insurer involves its own attorney
o Seeking advice on the settlement value of a claim (while not an exact science, attorneys may be able to provide best and worse case scenarios);
o Unsure if other insurance (homeowners, travel, etc.) may be available;
o Determining whether your insurer may be acting in bad faith (not looking out for your best interests);
o Seeking information on how to handle negotiations with an insurer;
o You don’t know your rights;
o Confused over the terms of your policy;
o Needing an expert to review confusing paperwork or forms.
