Insurance Issues You May Face After A Semi-Truck Accident
Brian O Sutter
Accident Lawyers
Every year there are an average of 3,500 accidents in Florida involving semi-trucks. Since semi-trucks can weigh up to 150,000 pounds, these accidents are often debilitating. Insurance companies know how costly and dangerous these accidents can be, so they often make it extremely difficult for the victims to get fair compensation for their injuries and losses. If you are filing a claim after a trucking accident, you can run into some serious roadblocks from the insurance companies. So it is important you are prepared for these and have a strategy to get the money you are owed.You May Be Dealing With Multiple Insurance Companies
Semi-truck insurance is complicated. The driver may have one form of insurance while the contracting company has another and the leasing company another. Then the tractor may have a completely separate policy than the trailer and the cargo. Since semi-trucks drive all over the country, you may be dealing with agents from different states and coverages that are less than Florida requires for its resident truck drivers. With so many different insurance companies involved it can be a massive headache. These companies will try to shift blame back and forth during the claims process, leaving you to hold the bag.
Truck Insurance Companies Will Try To Settle Too Quickly
Since semi-truck accidents are very costly to insurance companies, they may try to rush to settle a claim so that they do not have to pay the full amount of what is owed. In many cases, these insurance companies will pressure victims to take an unfair sum just so they can save money on the accidents. Victims, who have debt stacking up as a result of their injuries, can easily give into this pressure and not get the full amount of compensation they deserve. This is especially important in semi-truck accidents because a lot of the time the real issues from injuries don’t show up until well after the insurance has pushed a settlement. So it is crucial you do not buckle under this pressure so that you are left with financial hardship down the road.
Determining Fault Is More Complicated With Semi-Trucks
Truck drivers have a variety of state and federal regulations to follow, as well as local traffic laws. So determining fault in truck accidents is a more complicated than in passenger vehicle accidents. Beyond just determining fault from a traffic violation, if a truck driver was in violation of one or multiple state or federal regulations, they could be determined at fault for the accident. However if you are unfamiliar with these regulations, you may have a hard time determining fault to the insurance companies and left without fair compensation for your losses.
Your Best Strategy Is To Hire An Attorney
Between your mounting costs and the challenges with recovering from an injury, trucking insurance companies will be looking to take advantage of your situation to get you to settle for less money. Also juggling between all the different insurance companies while tracking your own expenses can be a confusing and complicated nightmare. So the best thing you can do after a semi-truck accident is hire a personal injury attorney. Our experienced professionals at All Injuries Law Firm have more than 30 years of experience dealing with truck insurance companies. We understand what is at stake and can help you navigate the complexities of insurance claims and trucking regulations to get you a fair settlement for your accident.
So if you’ve been in an accident with a semi-truck, contact us today for a free consultation to see how we can help you!