3 Common Mistakes to Avoid Before Contacting a Truck Accident Lawyer

After being involved in an accident with a commercial truck, the very first thing you should do is to seek medical attention. After getting the immediate medical care that you require, the next thing on your to-do list should be consulting a truck accident lawyer. Unfortunately, many accident victims put off completing this second step for one reason or another. Unfortunately, during this period of procrastination, individuals often make one or more common mistakes that can ultimately hurt their compensation case. Continue reading to learn more about three of these common mistakes so that you can avoid making them yourself.

Mistake #1: Waiting Too Long

While most accident cases are settled outside of a courtroom, your legal right to file a lawsuit is what helps to motivate the insurance company to reach an out-of-court settlement. Without this legal leverage, there really is not much incentive for the insurance company to agree to pay you anything let alone a fair dollar amount. Unfortunately, this legal right does come with an expiration date. In the event you need to exercise this legal right, your truck accident lawyer will need ample time to prepare your case. Waiting too long to retain the services of a lawyer can make this impossible and ultimately result in walking away with far less compensation than you truly deserve.

Mistake #2: Making Statements to Insurance Company

You must understand that no matter how helpful your insurance claims agent may seem to be, this agent works for the insurance company and it is their job to protect the best interest of the company. This means that the insurance company is not on your side. As a result, you can be sure that the insurance company will use any statements you make to try and justify a lower settlement amount. This is why it is always best to refrain from any communication with the insurance company until you have had a chance to talk to a truck accident lawyer about your case. 

Mistake #3: Accepting Unfair Settlement

It is quite common for people to find themselves dealing with a bit of regret after accepting a low settlement offer. This is especially true in cases where the full extent of a person's injuries is not known until weeks or months after the accident. Unfortunately, no matter how much regret you may find yourself experiencing, the law prevents you from pursuing additional compensation once you have settled your case. That is why it is so important to consult a truck accident lawyer before accepting a settlement.