The aftermath of a truck accident can leave you in just as much misery as the crash itself. Having to treat the injuries you sustained and dealing with a confusing insurance process to recover compensation may bring more complications than you can handle.
At the Law Offices of Ogle, Elrod & Baril, PLLC, we understand the complexities of truck crash cases. Our attorneys can help you hold the party that caused the crash liable for your medical costs, missed wages from work, pain and suffering, and other damages. Contact a truck accident lawyer in Jefferson City today at 865-546-1111 for a free legal consultation about your situation. We can help you pursue the compensation you deserve under Tennessee law.
How Do I Know If I Have a Viable Case?
During your free consultation, we will ask you for details of your truck accident, the physical injuries you or your loved one sustained, and monetary losses you suffered because of the crash. If another party was responsible for your crash, you are likely eligible for compensation.
If you have a viable case, we can help you file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit to recover the compensation you deserve.
Can I Handle This Myself?
After any motor vehicle crash, you can file an insurance claim and seek compensation yourself. However, if your accident involved serious injuries or significant property damage, you may have a hard time getting fair compensation from the insurance company. Accidents involving commercial trucks and their corporate owners can become complicated and frustrating. The insurer in your case may offer a quick settlement that does not take into account the full value of your losses, or it may try to deny your claim altogether. Our law firm can help you file your claim and pursue a fair settlement.
What Type of Information Is Necessary for an Insurance Claim?
We gather information that shows how the truck driver’s negligence caused you harm and you sustained damages. For example, through police reports and other documentation, we may find the truck driver was:
- Speeding;
- Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol;
- Driving while distracted;
- Driving an overloaded truck;
- Driving while drowsy;
- Driving beyond designated working hours; or
- Driving without proper training.
In these situations, we can hold the driver’s employer responsible for this negligence. That gives us the benefit of filing a claim under a corporate insurance policy with higher liability limits, but it also means we will need to face the company’s team of lawyers when we file your claim.
What Other Evidence Helps to Prove Negligence?
Some of the most solid evidence for a truck accident comes from the truck company. However, if we wait too long to act, the company can destroy this evidence after a certain time period. That is why we must act fast to send a letter notifying the company of our intention to file for compensation, and list the information we want preserved. We want to secure documentation like:
- Driver logs, including hours of service;
- Accident reports involving the truck;
- Electronic data from onboard recording devices;
- Truck inspection records;
- Photographs of the accident scene;
- Records of truck repairs;
- Records of the truck’s weight at the time of the accident; and
- Records of previous federal violations.
We will also obtain your medical records and statements showing how much you have paid to treat your injuries so far. We can also help you secure:
- A police report of the truck accident;
- Surveillance video from a nearby traffic camera or a business;
- Photographs of the accident scene; and
- Costestimates to repair or replace your vehicle.
We will also use your testimony and statements from eyewitnesses to the accident to support your claim.
What Will You Do With This Information?
We collect this evidence to submit with your insurance claim. Our case must prove the truck driver and the truck company owed you a duty of care. However, they failed to fulfill that duty by causing an accident. As a result, you suffered physical injuries and damages.
Although we may have a strong case, that does not mean the insurance company will settle your claim. Insurers will underpay, delay, or deny a claim to save money. However, we defend against these tactics and fight to recover the compensation you deserve. If the insurer refuses to offer fair compensation, we will speak with you about filing a personal injury lawsuit.
How Much Compensation Can I Receive?
Because of their massive size, large trucks can cause severe injuries for occupants in other vehicles. These commonly include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, paralysis, and even death.
While we cannot give you an exact dollar value for your claim until we review your case, serious injuries like these usually result in a higher settlement from the at-fault party. That is because the amount of compensation you receive depends on several factors, including the nature of your injuries and the effects they have on your daily life. In general, you may pursue damages for the following:
- Current and future medical expenses;
- Hospital bills;
- In-patient rehabilitation;
- In-home health care;
- Lost wages, current and future;
- Loss of earning capacity;
- Funeral expenses, if a loved one died in the accident; and
- Property damage
You may also seek non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and mental anguish, that occurred because of the truck accident.
Call Us to Schedule a Free Consultation.
Contact the Law Offices of Ogle, Elrod & Baril, PLLC, today at 865-546-1111 to meet with a truck accident lawyer in Jefferson City. We understand how a truck crash can turn your life upside down and affect the lives of your loved ones. You can rely on us to fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
We work on a contingency fee basis, so you do not have to pay us up front. You only pay for our services when we receive a favorable outcome in your case.