Trial Attorney Blog
Truck accidents are terrifying experiences. The sheer size and weight of commercial trucks make these crashes far more dangerous than regular car accidents.
Victims often suffer serious injuries, vehicle destruction, and emotional trauma.
You might assume that the insurance company will be there to support you after such a harrowing event, but unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
Insurance companies are businesses that prioritize profits.
Often, they use sneaky tactics to reduce payouts, even when you’re clearly the victim.
In this article, we’ll explore the most common insurance company tricks and how a skilled truck accident lawyer can help you navigate the challenges, protect your rights, and secure the compensation you deserve.
Common Insurance Company Tricks You Should Be Aware Of
Insurance companies employ several strategies to protect their bottom line. Here are the most common ones to watch for:
Making Quick, Lowball Settlement Offers
Soon after the accident, an insurance adjuster might contact you with a settlement offer.
It may sound generous, but it’s often far below what your case is worth.
- Trick: They want you to accept money before you understand the full extent of your injuries or damages.
- Why it’s harmful: Once you accept the offer, you usually can’t ask for more, even if you later face high medical bills or long-term care needs.
Requesting a Recorded Statement
Adjusters might ask you to give a recorded statement about the crash.
- Trick: They use carefully worded questions to get you to say something that can be used against you.
- Why it’s harmful: Even a small misstatement or hesitation can be twisted to suggest you were partly at fault.
Delaying the Claims Process
Sometimes, insurers deliberately slow things down.
- Trick: They hope you’ll get frustrated, run out of money, or miss legal deadlines.
- Why it’s harmful: If too much time passes, you could lose your legal right to pursue compensation altogether.
Discouraging Legal Representation
They may tell you that hiring a lawyer will complicate things or delay your claim.
- Trick: They prefer dealing with unrepresented victims because it’s easier to manipulate the outcome.
- Why it’s harmful: Without a lawyer, you might not realize what you’re truly entitled to under the law.
Shifting the Blame
Even if the truck driver clearly caused the crash, insurers may suggest that you were partially or entirely at fault.
- Trick: They may reference vague laws or statements you made to reduce or deny your claim.
- Why it’s harmful: In states with comparative fault laws, being blamed for even part of the accident can significantly reduce your compensation.
Withholding Critical Evidence
Insurance companies sometimes withhold important documents, like truck driver logs, black box data, or surveillance footage.
- Trick: They don’t volunteer evidence that might prove the truck driver or company was negligent.
- Why it’s harmful: Without this evidence, it’s harder to build a strong case and demand the compensation you deserve.
Why Truck Accidents Are Different from Car Accidents
Greater Damage and Severe Injuries
Commercial trucks, especially 18-wheelers, weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded.
When they collide with smaller vehicles, the impact is devastating.
These crashes can lead to catastrophic injuries like spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and even fatalities. Recovery can be long, painful, and costly.
More Complex Liability
Unlike car accidents, where the responsibility usually lies with one driver, truck accidents often involve multiple potentially liable parties, including:
- The truck driver: due to fatigue, distraction, or recklessness.
- The trucking company: for poor training, unrealistic schedules, or negligent hiring.
- The cargo loaders: if the load was improperly secured or overweight.
- The maintenance team: if vehicle upkeep was ignored.
- The truck manufacturer: if faulty parts played a role.
Untangling liability in these cases is difficult and requires thorough investigation and legal expertise.
What Typically Happens Right After a Truck Crash?
After a truck accident, several things happen quickly:
- Emergency responders arrive to provide aid and document the scene.
- A police report is filed, which becomes an essential piece of evidence later.
- Insurance companies are notified, and they waste no time contacting victims.
This is the critical moment when you need to be cautious.
Insurance adjusters may seem friendly and helpful, but their goal is to minimize how much they pay you.
How a Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help You
A truck accident lawyer is your advocate. Their job is to fight for your best interests, deal with the trucking insurance companies, and make sure you receive full compensation. Here’s how they can help:
Handling Insurance Negotiations
Your lawyer will communicate directly with insurance adjusters on your behalf, protecting you from misleading questions and lowball offers.
They know the tactics insurers use and how to counter them effectively.
Determining the True Value of Your Case
Truck accident lawyers consider the full picture when calculating damages, including:
- Medical expenses (past, present, and future)
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Emotional distress
- Rehabilitation and long-term care
They ensure you don’t settle for less than what your injuries and losses are truly worth.
Investigating the Crash Thoroughly
Experienced attorneys gather crucial evidence by:
- Requesting police reports and medical records
- Reviewing dashcam or surveillance footage
- Analyzing data from the truck’s black box
- Interviewing eyewitnesses and experts
- Examining maintenance and driver logs
This thorough investigation strengthens your case and helps pinpoint who is legally responsible.
Filing a Lawsuit if Necessary
If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, your lawyer can file a personal injury lawsuit and represent you in court.
Many times, the mere threat of legal action motivates insurers to settle fairly.
Ensuring You Meet Legal Deadlines
Each state has a statute of limitations (usually 1–3 years) for filing a truck accident claim.
Your lawyer ensures all paperwork is filed correctly and on time so you don’t lose your right to compensation.
Smart Steps to Take After a Truck Accident
What you do right after a crash can affect your ability to recover damages. Follow these steps:
- Get to Safety: Move away from traffic if possible.
- Call 911: Report the accident and request medical help.
- Document the Scene: Take photos of the vehicles, road conditions, injuries, and more.
- Get Medical Attention: Always get evaluated by a doctor, even if you feel okay. Some injuries are delayed.
- Don’t Speak to Insurers Alone: Tell them you’ll have your lawyer contact them.
- Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer: Get legal advice before signing or saying anything.
Myths About Hiring a Truck Accident Lawyer
Let’s debunk a few common misconceptions:
Lawyers Are Too Expensive
Truth: Most truck accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. That means you don’t pay anything upfront—they only get paid if they win your case.
I Can Handle It Myself
Truth: Truck accident cases are complicated. Without legal help, you may overlook critical details or accept an unfair settlement.
Hiring a Lawyer Slows Things Down
Truth: A good truck accident lawyer can speed up the process by pushing the insurance company to respond and meet deadlines.
Final Thoughts
Insurance companies are not your friends after a truck crash.
Their main goal is to protect their profits, not your well-being.
They use a variety of strategies to avoid paying what your case is truly worth.
You don’t have to face them alone.
A truck accident lawyer knows the law, understands the insurance company’s tactics, and is committed to getting you the compensation you deserve.
Whether it’s negotiating a fair settlement or taking your case to court, having the right legal representation can make all the difference.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident, don’t wait.
Contact an experienced truck accident attorney today and protect your rights from the start.
FAQ’s
Do I need a lawyer, or can I just deal with the insurance company myself?
It’s tempting to just handle it yourself and move on, but insurance companies have teams trained to minimize what they pay. Even if they seem helpful, their goal isn’t to protect you; it’s to protect their bottom line. A truck accident lawyer levels the playing field and helps make sure you’re not shortchanged.
They offered me a settlement already… Should I just take it and get it over with?
It might feel like a relief to have money in hand quickly, but that first offer is almost always lower than what you truly deserve. You may not even know yet how serious your injuries are or what future costs will look like. A lawyer can help you figure out the real value of your case before you agree to anything.
I wasn’t completely faultless—does that mean I can’t get compensation?
Not necessarily. Even if you were partly at fault, many states still allow you to recover damages. The key is how much blame is assigned to each party. A lawyer can help protect your rights and make sure the blame isn’t unfairly shifted to you.
What if I don’t have the money to hire a lawyer right now?
That’s one of the biggest worries people have—but here’s the thing: most truck accident lawyers work on a contingency basis. That means no upfront costs. They only get paid if they win your case. So you can get help without adding more financial stress.
It’s been a while since the accident—am I too late to do anything?
It depends on how much time has passed. Every state has a time limit (called a statute of limitations) for filing a claim. If you’re unsure, don’t guess—talk to a lawyer right away. The sooner you act, the better chance you have of building a strong case.