Why Should You Call a Lawyer Immediately After a Truck Accident?
For more than 30 years, Lichtenstein Law Group has served clients in Roanoke and communities throughout the I-81 corridor in Virginia. Given our location, it should come as no surprise that we have handled numerous truck accident cases.
Crashes involving large tractor-trailers happen too frequently in our region. As the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) reports, no other interstate in Virginia has a higher per capita truck volume than the 325-mile stretch of I-81 — and no other interstate has a higher percentage of crashes involving heavy trucks, either.
We believe that it’s critical to contact an experienced truck accident lawyer immediately after a crash. When deciding whether to consult an attorney about handling your specific truck accident case, here are a few things to consider.
Contact a Trucking Accident Lawyer Immediately If …
In some situations, failing to contact a lawyer after a truck accident could be disastrous to a person’s ability to recover compensation. Pick up the phone now if:
- You suffered serious or permanent injuries – The long-term financial impact of severe injuries, long-term medical complications, or permanent disabilities is substantial. An attorney at Lichtenstein Law Group can help calculate the full value of your claim, including future medical expenses, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering. If you have life-changing injuries, you will need financial resources to live your fullest life possible. You can demand compensation for your losses in a truck accident lawsuit.
- Someone died – Fatal truck accidents caused by truck driver negligence often lead to wrongful death lawsuits that involve complex legal issues. We can help surviving family members pursue compensation for funeral expenses, lost income, and the emotional impact of losing a loved one.
- The trucking company or its insurance company contacts you – Be cautious about what you say to the trucking company or its insurance provider. The insurance adjuster’s job is to protect the insurer and minimize any claim payout. They might push you to accept a low settlement offer or seek evidence to undermine your claim. Protect your rights by having a skilled truck accident attorney at Lichtenstein Law Group to represent you in dealings with the trucking company’s insurance provider.
- You are being blamed for the accident – Truck accident cases often involve disputes over fault. The trucking company may try to shift the blame onto you to avoid paying you compensation. We can investigate the crash, gather evidence, and challenge any unfair defense claims that would reduce your recovery.
Many truck accident victims worry about adding the cost of legal help to an already expensive situation. However, our truck accident lawyers handle cases on a contingency fee basis. We receive legal fees only if we secure a settlement or court award for you. In other words, you won’t have to pay up front or out of pocket to get skilled and experienced legal help with your truck accident claim.
What Can a Virginia Truck Accident Injury Lawyer Do for Your Case?
Trucking accident cases differ from car accidents or other motor vehicle accident cases. Commercial truck accidents often involve more serious injuries and higher financial stakes. The cases require knowledge of federal regulations that govern commercial vehicles.
For example, your case could involve multiple at-fault parties, such as the truck’s maintenance providers or cargo loaders. The at-fault trucking company might be out of state and subject to interstate trucking regulations, which could complicate the investigation and affect which court has jurisdiction over the case.
The trucking industry is heavily regulated at the state and federal levels. You’ll want a lawyer who understands Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules and who can pinpoint trucking safety violations that might prove liability.
Here are a few practical things a truck accident lawyer at Lichtenstein Law Group can do to support your claim:
- Collect critical evidence for your case – A truck accident case typically involves careful analysis of driver logs, hours of service records, maintenance reports, and inspection records. We can download information from the truck’s electronic data recorder, or “black box.” We may also send a letter of spoliation to the trucking company, alerting it to the need to gain access to the truck and black box data. This digital data may get overwritten if you do not quickly secure it.
- Work with accident reconstruction experts – Our truck accident attorneys regularly work with accident reconstruction professionals who use principles of engineering and physics to help understand how a crash occurred. Once black box evidence gets recovered, we can work with accident reconstruction professionals to translate the raw data into a likely chain of events that clarifies who is at fault.
- Calculate full and fair compensation – Because of their massive size and weight, tractor-trailers and other large trucks cause considerable impact force when they collide with smaller vehicles. Truck accident victims can suffer life-altering injuries that require ongoing medical care. You may be unable to work as a result, leading to lost wages and potentially affecting your career prospects. We can determine the physical, emotional, and financial harm you have suffered and demand that the at-fault parties compensate you.
How Can a Virginia Truck Accident Lawyer Calculate the Full Value of Your Claim?
At Lichtenstein Law Group, we recognize the immediate and long-term consequences of a semi-truck accident. Those consequences often include:
- Past medical bills
- Future medical treatment costs
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
To calculate the full and fair compensation, we will review evidence such as:
- Medical records
- Employment and earning history
- Testimony from medical professionals and life care planners
- Interviews with your family and close friends
An accurate calculation of losses is a prerequisite to pursuing fair compensation. For this reason, you should call a lawyer immediately after a truck accident.
Get Help from an Experienced Virginia Truck Accident Lawyer
If you recently suffered injuries in a truck accident in Virginia, time is of the essence. To understand your legal option, contact Lichtenstein Law Group for a free consultation.
Our law firm has nearly 100 years of combined litigation experience. Our attorneys will apply our considerable experience to develop your truck accident lawsuit and hold the responsible parties accountable.
We have a track record of winning even the most complex claims. Every case is unique, but our Roanoke truck accident lawyers have won multiple results exceeding $1 million for injured clients. We know how insurance companies work — and we don’t let them get away with avoiding responsibility. When necessary, we take cases to trial and hold negligent truck drivers and corporations accountable.
Find out why clients throughout Virginia trust us to help them rebuild their lives after they suffered serious injuries in a truck crash. Contact our truck accident lawyers today and get started with a free consultation.
