Truck Accident Settlement Guide

To complete a truck accident settlement, you need to hire a Phoenix truck crash attorney to file your claim and help determine who is at fault for the accident, ask for all damages you may be entitled to, and go through the legal process until fault is determined. In this article, we’ll give you an overview of key steps and considerations involved in pursuing compensation after a truck accident.

How to Settle a Truck Accident Claim

Secure the Scene of the Accident

Your main concern immediately after the truck accident should be your safety and anyone else involved. Remove yourself and any other people from immediate danger, such as the middle of a busy road. Check yourself to find any injuries or pain.

You may need to call 911 for immediate help. First responders can help keep you and others safe. Even if 911 is not necessary, you should still see a healthcare professional for a full exam after an accident. After all, not all injuries will be obvious right away.

Determine Liability

Determining liability for truck crashes is a complicated process because there could be several liable parties at hand, including the truck driver, trucking company, truck manufacturer, truck loading company, and truck maintenance company. Luckily, you are not responsible for determining liability.

Insurance is responsible for determining fault, but an experienced truck accident lawyer can help you make a strong case that the accident was not your fault.

File an Insurance Claim

You should immediately notify your insurance company of the accident to begin the process of recovering damages. Your insurance or the driver’s insurance will help pay for the damage to your vehicle, your health, and more. Because of this, the insurance company of the trucking company must also be included in the claim. This is where you need an experienced lawyer who understands the loopholes insurance companies use to deny victims their rightful compensation.

Ask for All Damages

Include all the damages in your claim, including medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. You should also include punitive damages‒these are damages that punish the person at-fault, especially if they acted very recklessly or dangerously.

Initiate a Legal Process

In most truck accident cases, the parties involved agree to settle out of court. However, sometimes the parties may fail to reach a settlement, forcing the victim to go to court.

This is a formal legal process that involves filing a lawsuit, depositions, and a trial. An experienced truck accident attorney becomes necessary at this point because they’ll represent you in court. The outcome of the trial will be determined by the presiding judge and jury.

Sign a Settlement Agreement

Once the court has decided who is at fault and what they need to pay the victim, the parties will sign the settlement agreement. The settlement agreement explains what money you will be paid and for what reason. Your lawyer will handle the payment of the damages, including the payout of legal fees.

You also have to consider any outstanding and future medical expenses to ensure that they’re included in the final settlement. We recommend you speak with a tax professional, as well, because money from accident settlements can have different tax implications.

Final Thoughts

Settling a truck accident takes time, and an expert lawyer can help make the process easier. You need legal experts, motor vehicle accident specialists, and medical professionals to protect your rights. If you’re looking for a trusted and experienced truck accident lawyer in Phoenix who can take care of all of this for you, reach out to the team at Gage Mathers today!

About the Author

Joseph D'Aguanno

Guided by the belief that being a highly skilled specialist in a narrow field is better than being ordinary in everything, Joseph “JD” D’Aguanno leads Arizona’s best personal injury law firm in Phoenix, AZ. Having extensive cross-training in pre-litigation negotiations and trial lawyer skills, with decades of experience, JD strives to provide clients with the most valuable legal services a personal injury lawyer can provide. Under his direction, Gage Mathers Law Group is an award-winning personal injury law firm providing aggressive representation to victims of a car accident, medical malpractice, dog bite, motorcycle accident, and other injurious events. Gage Mathers is trusted by thousands of lawyers and clients throughout the country because of their reputation for getting clients the maximum compensation they deserve.

Years of experience: Over 24 years
Bar number: 020421
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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