You may have heard how difficult it can be dealing with a trucking company and their insurance company following an accident involving a large semi truck. Not only are you in pain and suffering from an injury that you sustained in the crash, but now you are worried about interacting with the other side. You know that need as much money as possible to reimburse you for your medical expenses, property damages, and to make up for your lost income due to missing work; however, you may be unsure about dealing with the insurer and knowing whether or not you will receive a fair offer.
Because our Norcross accident attorneys know how overwhelming it can be for victims of Georgia truck crashes to deal with an insurance company following a crash, we want to provide you with five tips that can alleviate your insurance claim worries and help you get the most compensation possible, such as:
- Call for the police and ambulance – chances are you will have suffered injuries in a crash with a large truck and you will need medical care. Additionally, you will want a copy of the accident report the police officers created.
- Watch what you say – when adrenaline is flowing at the accident scene, you need to be careful what you say. Never admit to fault or say “I’m sorry”. The truck driver could have been at fault.
- Gather information – ask for witnesses’ contact information and take down notes about the accident. Additionally, take pictures of the accident scene and damages to the vehicles involved.
- Report the accident – contact your insurance company to report the crash, but be careful what you say. You may not know the extent of your injuries at that point, so don’t deny that you are injured.
- Speak with an accident attorney – trucking accidents are different cases because they involve more parties and are governed by different laws, which is why it is critical that you get an experienced Georgia trucking accident attorney involved as soon as possible. The other side will start investigating the accident in order to try and limit their liability, which is why you need an attorney on your side that is investigating and preserving the evidence to maximize your recovery.
It is important that you understand who you are dealing with following a truck accident. Insurance adjusters have a job to save their company money, which makes it important to realize that they are not looking out for you. Their job is to try and get you to accept their settlement offer as fast as possible. By understanding how the process works and knowing what to do and what not to do, your insurance claim woes can be alleviated.
Call a Norcross personal injury lawyer who has experience handling trucking accident claims and who can help you understand your rights and make sure your interests are protected. Contact Shane Smith Law for a free consultation today at (980) 246-2656