Crashes involving semi-trucks and commercial vehicles account for about 5,800 deaths and nearly 150,000 reported injuries across the country. According to the National Safety Council, there has been an increase of more than 50% in the number of truck accident fatalities in the past ten years. Between 2020 and 2021 alone, the number increased by more than 17%. This is some indication that serious and fatal truck accidents are on the rise in recent years.
Victims often wonder what their legal rights are following a major crash. If you have lost a loved one, the pain can be excruciating and endless. One aspect where many victims are unprepared is dealing with an insurance company. Truck drivers and trucking companies carry large commercial insurance policies in order to protect themselves against the financial damage from a crash. These companies, however, often have an interest in delaying or denying claims. Understanding how truck insurance companies evaluate and pay claims is important when it comes to achieving a successful resolution.
As always, if you or a family member have been affected by a truck crash, our national truck accident lawyers at Burg Simpson are standing by to help you at any time.
Commercial insurance policies are issued to trucking companies and truck drivers who operate commercial vehicles. These policies provide insurance coverage in the event of a crash involving the covered commercial truck. Commercial policies in many ways are similar to a normal insurance policy in that they cover damages caused by a crash, such as vehicle damage and personal injury payments. Injured victims can make a claim under a commercial insurance policy if they have been hurt in a truck accident that was not their fault.
Unlike a traditional insurance policy, a commercial insurance policy is designed to cover truck and commercial vehicle accidents. These accidents tend to be serious and catastrophic in nature. As a result, commercial insurance tends to have a higher liability limit. Whereas a personal vehicle insurance policy may only have $100,000 in coverage available, many commercial policies provide insurance of $2 million or more. Not surprisingly, insurance companies often attempt to limit or deny liability for claims.
When a truck accident claim is filed, it will first go to the insurance adjuster for an evaluation. The claim will be assigned to an adjuster who will investigate the claim and the circumstances surrounding it, such as:
These factors and others will be considered in evaluating an insurance claim. In many cases, companies will find ways to deny or devalue a claim at this stage of the process. It is always best to have a skilled and experienced national truck accident lawyer who can help during this time.
Most people are not trained in dealing with commercial insurance companies. As a result, they often make mistakes when dealing with these companies. These mistakes may end up costing them thousands of dollars in the resolution of their claims. There are several things that injured victims or loved ones can do to help their case when it comes to dealing with the insurance company:
Many crash victims make the mistake of assuming that the commercial insurance company is on their side. It is not uncommon for an insurance adjuster to be friendly and even seem accommodating when you are speaking to them. However, the truth is that insurance companies, by and large, are only interested in settling a case as soon as possible. The adjuster's goal is to save money for the company. Normally, the easiest way to do this is to resolve the claim for less than what it is worth.
Unfortunately, victims often help in this effort. The victim may give a recorded statement setting out the facts leading up to the crash. Unfortunately, this statement may contradict other statements that they have given and can harm their credibility. Additionally, victims who do not have an attorney may fail to fully understand and value their claims. This includes both their current medical bills but also the cost of their future medical treatments due to their injuries. Failing to take the cost of long-term care into account is one of the many scenarios where injured motorists end up accepting an unfair claim.
In the aftermath of a truck crash, the last thing you want to do is haggle with an insurance adjuster. An experienced national truck accident attorney can help you fight the insurance company and its tactics. At Burg Simpson, we have a skilled and dedicated legal team. We are ready to take on serious and fatal truck crash cases, and we will ensure that the insurance company respects your legal rights.
A truck crash lawyer can help in several ways when it comes to dealing with the insurance company. Your lawyer can make a settlement demand, using your medical bills and records, along with information alleging the value of your claim. A skilled attorney understands when how to maximize the value of your settlement demand by providing a full and clear picture of your legal damages arising from the crash.
While not every truck accident results in injuries, many of them will. The damage caused by a truck crash can be serious and devastating in nature. Receiving appropriate compensation is important for victims and family members seeking to move forward following a crash.
When you are dealing with a truck accident insurance company, it is vital to have assistance from a seasoned attorney. Your attorney will guide you on the proper steps to take to preserve your claim and can steer you away from the mistakes that are most commonly made by unrepresented victims.
Here at Burg Simpson, our team is standing by to help at any time. We provide free consultations and case evaluations for all potential and prospective clients. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that there is no payment to us until we win. When we meet with you, we will go over your case in detail and help to come up with a successful strategy.
To schedule your time to speak with one of our nationwide truck accident lawyers, please reach out to us via our online intake form or give us a call a (866) 637-1207.
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