Did you know that according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the U.S., in 2023 alone, there were 3.05 million truck drivers?
Unfortunately, in the U.S. this year(June 2024), there have been 76,682 large truck and bus crashes. Most of the deaths in large truck crashes were caused by the passenger vehicle occupants.
You must be aware of 6 mistakes to avoid when filing a truck accident claim. Stone says victims of the Flint truck accident sustain amputation, burns, head wounds, lacerations or cuts, mental disorders, spinal cord and back injuries, and sprains.
And fractures are legally eligible to file a Flint truck accident attorney review claim in legal procedures related to injury cases since they suffered.
Let’s find out what mistakes you should avoid and how to win your settlement claim for your truck accident.
Article Summary
6 Mistakes To Avoid When Filing a Truck Accident Claim
If you want fair compensation, don’t delay in getting medical treatment or settling too soon after the accident. Let’s check out the following claims.
1. Delaying Medical Treatment
How long should you wait before seeking medical treatment for injuries stemming from a truck accident?
One of the most important things you should do is get medical help immediately, even if you think you feel fine after the accident. Delaying treatment is one of the best ways to nuke your compensation claim.
If you try to take your time before seeking medical treatment, your insurance company could cast doubt on your case, claiming either that you’re only experiencing the “natural” process of healing or that your injuries weren’t caused by the accident itself.
It can give the defence reason to suspect you are not really hurt and the crash is not the cause of the injury.
For all these reasons, the longer the wait for medical evaluation and treatment, the worse it will be for you, your case and your claim for payment as a consequence of a truck accident. A delay in medical attention might make the damage worse.
Also, if you do not get treatment for at least a day or two, it is likely some injuries may get worse. Sometimes, you don’t perceive there is an injury at all, but the damage may eventually worsen over some time.
A delay in medical attention might make the damage worse. A delay in initiating treatment might lengthen the time required for recovery and result in long term health problems.
A personal injury attorney law firm, KLJ Law PLLC, says that the sooner you see a doctor following a truck accident, the better, especially if you have solid proof.
2. Admitting Fault Too Soon
Failing to seek medical treatment right away (although admittedly, that’s a little easier to forgive if the accident involves unexpectedly taking an ice cream cone to the face) is one way you can shoot yourself in the foot before you file a claim for injuries related to a truck accident.
Yet another important way to create a sure fire mess of your case is to admit fault prematurely.
If there’s a good time to prematurely admit fault, it’s probably the first few hours or days after an accident away from the rambling influence of adrenalin and in the relative seclusion of your own home, it’s easier to logically process how an accident happened than it is while you’re still crouched amid the smoking remains of your 2008 Prius.
Despite all this, it’s almost impossible to refrain from the gut instinct reaction to apologize when you’ve just careened into the back of an old woman’s Honda Civic.
If you admit fault too quickly, the insurance company and the opposing attorney might use this against you.
Ask for the names, addresses, phone numbers and insurance information of the other driver(s).
Exchange such information if the other driver asks for yours. At the accident scene, do not discuss fault.
Protect yourself, who is involved, and your pets. Stay safe, and seek medical attention if needed. Leave fault determination to the accident reconstruction experts.
By not admitting fault too soon and at the scene, you will preserve your rights with an unbiased fact finder.
3. Not Gathering Sufficient Evidence
However, you also demand that their liability be established and that they reimburse you for your loss and damage caused by the truck accident. Therefore, there is a need to gather adequate evidence following a truck accident.
This is because, without any evidence, it will be difficult to establish the liability of the respondents who are responsible for causing the accident, as well as getting the compensation that you deserve for your loss and damage caused by the accident.
Make sure you have the proof you need to support your claim. Take photos immediately after the accident, including any car damage, the road and weather conditions, traffic signs, and your injuries.
Obtain the names, addresses and phone numbers of anyone there who witnessed how the accident occurred. Get a copy of the police report from the responding agency.
You should seek medical assistance right away. Document all your medical treatment, prescriptions and doctor visits.
You should preserve anything physical, such as clothing and personal property damaged in the accident.
4. Giving a Recorded Statement
After a truck accident, protect your rights and interests by avoiding the recorded statement. Shortly following an accident, insurance companies may ask you for recorded statements.
You might think it will be an easy way to recount events. While it may appear harmless on the surface, the recorded statement can be used against you later in the claims process.
Adjusters have been known to steer individuals into saying things they did not mean to say or might be taken out of context, ultimately damaging their claims.
Suppose you are asked to give a recorded statement before you have spoken with a personal injury attorney.
In that case, he will probably tell you not to do it until you have an opportunity to find out about your rights and hear advice on how to handle this request.
If you do decide to give a recorded statement, keep it brief and stick to the facts without speculating or admitting fault.
