In Houston, semi-truck accidents on the highway are common. If a truck driver hit your car, you’re probably wondering whether it’s worth hiring a Texas truck accident attorney. Do you really need one, or can you handle filing a claim yourself?
Why Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer in Texas?
After a truck accident, the first thing you should do is hire an experienced Texas semi-truck crash attorney. Here’s why this is the right move.
They Can Estimate the Value of Your Claim
When you file a claim with the insurance company, the adjuster will want to see a list of your damages and their value. Calculating medical bills, lost wages, and the damage to your car is easy enough. But what about non-economic damages like pain and suffering?
Such damages don’t have an inherent value, so they’re tricky to calculate. Your Texas tractor-trailer collision lawyer can handle the calculations to ensure you don’t make a mistake on your claim.
They Will Determine Liability
For a regular car accident, you’d make a claim against the at-fault driver. However, truck accidents differ because several parties could be liable for the crash.
For instance, you may be able to hold the trucker’s employer liable. This is usually true if:
- The trucking company refused to let the driver take mandated breaks
- It didn’t conduct a background check on the driver
- It failed to conduct drug and alcohol testing
- It failed to maintain the driver’s truck
If the trucker is an independent contractor or they were driving their truck while off duty, you’ll likely have to make a claim with their personal insurance company.
They Will Gather Supporting Evidence
You’ll need plenty of strong evidence to win your truck accident case. You can gather some of this evidence, such as copies of your medical bills, yourself. Collecting other evidence can be assisted with the help of a Texas truck accident attorney.
Your commercial vehicle accident attorney can gather the following on your behalf:
- The police report
- Witness statements
- Camera footage of the crash
- Accident reconstructionist reports
- Truck black box data
They’ll Negotiate With the Insurance Company
No insurance company wants to pay you a settlement; if they must, they’ll fight to pay as little as possible. Many adjusters will offer you a low settlement at first. They might say, “Your claim is only worth this much,” or “You’re partially at fault, so you’re lucky we’re giving you anything.”
You can negotiate for more, but insurance adjusters know how to play hardball. You’ll need a tough attorney who’s prepared to beat them at their own game.
They Can Handle All the Paperwork for You
Filing an insurance claim involves a ton of paperwork. It’s easy to fill out a form the wrong way or miss a filing deadline, and just one mistake could cause the adjuster to deny your claim.
An attorney can deal with this mountain of paperwork so you don’t have to, allowing you to focus on recovering after your truck accident.
Many Truck Accident Lawyers Work on Contingency
If you’re hesitant to hire an attorney because you’re worried about the cost, know that many truck accident lawyers work on contingency. That means you don’t owe a dime unless they win your case. You have nothing to lose and much to gain by hiring an attorney.
Hire Legal Representation for Truck Accidents in Texas
For a consultation with a Houston, Texas truck accident attorney, contact McLaurin Law PLLC at (713) 322 5523.
