Independence is an admirable personality trait. You can handle just about anything life decides to toss at you. Leaky faucet at home? You’ve got this without calling a plumber. You’re even taking care of your vehicle maintenance like oil changes and brake pad replacements.
While being independent is something to feel good about, there’s a time to take a back seat. Being involved in an accident with a semi-truck is a great example. Instead of flaunting your independence, you should turn to Texas Truck Accident Lawyer Jimmy Doan.
Hiring a Texas truck accident lawyer to handle your injury claim makes sense for several reasons. If potential legal costs are holding you back, retaining legal representation may be more affordable than you think. Truck accident attorneys typically offer contingency fee rates. This means no upfront costs. Instead, you only pay your attorney after they successfully settle your claim. So, you can cross the cost of a lawyer off your list. If you’re still not sure about hiring an accident attorney, here’s a look at some of the possible benefits.
Truck drivers must follow the same traffic laws as other motorists. Just because their vehicle is bigger doesn’t mean truck drivers are exempt from all traffic rules. Truck drivers must also follow state and federal regulations. Enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), these laws cover just about every aspect of the truck and its driver.
Some of the topics covered by FMCSA regulations include the length of time a truck driver can spend behind the wheel. Licensing requirements and vehicle maintenance are also addressed in the guidelines. Even if you think you have a handle on FMCSA rules, state laws can also apply. Trying to navigate both sets of rules can be confusing and frustrating. If you misread a regulation it can negatively impact your compensation claim.
Most trucking accidents result in rather serious injuries. We’re talking about more than a contusion caused by your seatbelt. Broken bones, TBIs (traumatic brain injuries), and spinal cord injuries are common. When you’re dealing with severe injuries, you're not exactly in the best place to work on your compensation claim. You’re stuck recovering in the hospital, instead of interviewing witnesses and gathering other types of evidence. Even trying to focus on the accident claim form is all but impossible.
When you partner with a Texas accident attorney, you’re essentially hiring a professional assistant. Your attorney can handle all of the legal aspects of your claim while you’re still in the hospital. Your attorney can even become a bit of emotional support during your recovery. Since your attorney understands every detail of your case, they’re uniquely positioned to listen to your concerns.
Yep, it can seem like just about everything in life has a negotiable price. Your accident claim certainly isn’t an exception. You can spend hours carefully calculating the value of your economic and non-economic losses. You even have plenty of evidence to back up your list of damages.
Guess what, the insurance company really doesn’t care. Sure, they’re the first ones to point out when evidence is missing. However, they’re probably also not going to pay out your first submitted number. This is when negotiations come in and it can be a wild ride. You can even say this is the part of the process the insurance company looks forward to.
Negotiations can be intense and the insurance adjuster is skilled at reducing claim values. Unless you’re a star debater, you’re probably going to be out of your league. Before you know it, you may agree to a low settlement amount. Once you accept a settlement from the insurance company, your claim is officially considered closed. You can’t refile a claim for the same accident, even if you’re stuck with remaining expenses.
Your Texas truck accident attorney is a skilled negotiator. Better yet, your attorney is also familiar with common insurance tactics. Your attorney is in a better position to help ensure you receive fair compensation. This means not being left with accident-related expenses.
There’s something to be said for having friends in high places. We’re in no way saying your attorney’s friendships with local officials are going to influence the outcome of your claim. However, having a passing acquaintance with local officials can help the legal process move along a tad more smoothly.
You may find it a little easier to get on the court docket if your claim turns into a lawsuit. Getting evidence like video footage from surveillance cameras may not be such a pain when your attorney knows the right people. You may even have an easier time bringing in expert witnesses to help support your accident claim.
Truck accident claims can be challenging, even when you think you have a pretty cut-and-dry case. Pretty much anything can be contested by either you or the insurance company. When something is contested, get ready to show up for a court hearing. A judge or possibly a jury will listen to both sides before making a ruling. Ideally, you want the court to rule in your favor.
Chances are, your trucking accident attorney has a passing familiarity with the various courtrooms. This gives you a bit of an advantage. Since your attorney is familiar with previous rulings, they have a pretty good idea of which way yours will go. Sometimes, your attorney may even be able to pick a judge who tends to rule favorably in cases like yours.
Truck accident claims are complicated, even if your injuries aren’t terribly severe. You're navigating federal and state laws and this isn’t easy. Working with a personal injury attorney has advantages that are worth exploring. These advantages can go beyond helping ensure you receive fair compensation.
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