Commercial truck accidents often result in significant damage. These vehicles pose a great risk to others on the road due to their size and weight. Additionally, the cargo being transported by these trucks can add an extra element of danger. Because of the potential for harm by a large commercial truck, drivers and trucking companies must follow special safety regulations.
If you suffered damages in a trucking accident, you could be entitled to claim compensation from the at-fault party. The firm of White Law PLLC has helped countless accident victims get the money they need after a collision. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a truck accident lawyer in Clinton Township, MI.
How a Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help You After an Accident
Following a truck accident, recovering the money you need from the liable party can be challenging. Fortunately, an experienced truck wreck lawyer can help. When you hire an attorney, one of the first actions you can expect them to take will be to launch their own investigation into your truck accident.
The purpose of this inquiry will be to collect evidence to support your claim and determine who is responsible for the losses you suffered. Once your attorney has concluded their investigation, they will calculate the full value of the damages you incurred. They will then complete and file the necessary paperwork for an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
When filing a lawsuit against the liable party, your lawyer will proceed through the steps of the pretrial process and argue your case in court, if necessary. From the start, your attorney will also be in negotiations with opposing counsel attempting to come to terms on a settlement agreement.
Your Fight Is Our Fight
Be Aware of the Statute of Limitations
When attempting to recover compensation through a personal injury lawsuit, you must pay attention to the applicable statute of limitations in the state where your accident took place. In Michigan, truck accident victims typically have three years to file a lawsuit against the liable party. If you miss this deadline, you will likely lose your right to pursue compensation.
There are exceptions to the statute of limitations. The details of your case could alter the deadline to provide you with more time to file or restrict your time for claiming compensation even further.
To ensure that you meet all deadlines that apply to your case, you should hire an experienced truck accident attorney in Clinton Township, MI. Your lawyer will be able to identify whether or not any exceptions apply to your case and will get all of your paperwork filed before the deadline.
We know how to get our clients the results they need in the toughest legal arenas.
Don’t Accept a Settlement Deal Without Speaking to a Lawyer
Be careful with dealing with an insurance company after a truck accident. You need to realize that these companies do not have your best interests at heart. Instead of ensuring that accident victims get the help they need, they are far more concerned with protecting their bottom line.
A common step that many of these companies take to pay out as little money as possible is to offer a settlement deal before you even file a claim. Their goal will be to get you to accept the offer before consulting with an attorney. Unfortunately, even if the amount being offered seems significant, you will likely later realize that it only covers a small portion of your damages.
The best way to protect yourself is to decline to speak with an insurance representative until you have hired a lawyer. Forcing the insurer to go through your attorney will help to neutralize any tactics they would normally use to diminish the amount they have to pay.
We know how to get our clients the results they need in the toughest legal arenas.
Recoverable Damages Following a Truck Accident
After suffering losses in a commercial truck accident, there are many types of damages you will likely be able to pursue. Identifying the specific damages that apply to your case is essential for recovering full compensation for your damages. All damages you can pursue are divided into three primary categories.
Economic Damages
You can easily quantify the economic damages you sustained. These damages are meant as compensation for any losses you suffered that were monetary in nature. The most commonly available economic damages are:
- Lost income
- Diminished earning ability
- Medical costs
- Future medical expenses
- Property damages
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are far more difficult to evaluate. These damages cover all the other losses that resulted from your accident. Many of these damages are profoundly personal and have lifelong consequences for the victim’s well-being. Because of this, the money awarded for non-economic damages tends to be significant.
The most commonly available non-economic damages are:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
- Permanent disability
- Loss of companionship
- Decreased quality of life
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are not available in most truck accident cases. A judge will only award punitive damages in extraordinary circumstances where the actions of the liable parties were either criminally negligent or taken with the purpose of causing damage.
Punitive damages are not used to cover the losses suffered by the accident victim, like the compensatory damages mentioned above. Instead, these damages are meant to punish the at-fault party for their actions.
You will always work directly with your attorney throughout your case.
Choose the Right Law Firm for You
When you are looking for legal representation after a truck accident, you need to find a law firm that has handled cases similar to yours and has a history of achieving favorable results for their clients. At White Law PLLC, our team of truck accident lawyers in Clinton Township has helped countless accident victims recover the money they need.
Give us a call or complete the contact form on this website to schedule a free consultation with one of our truck accident attorneys today.
We’re Experienced. We Care.
We Exceed Client Expectations.
