Often, accidents involving commercial trucks result in devastating injuries and damages. In 2021, an estimated 5,700 large trucks were involved in fatal collisions. The same year, over 117,300 large trucks were involved in crashes resulting in an injury.
Are you dealing with the aftermath of a truck accident? When faced with such a painful and overwhelming situation, having the guidance of a personal injury attorney is essential. A competent and experienced lawyer can provide peace of mind and advocate for you to receive a fair settlement.
But when should you consult a personal injury attorney about your truck accident claim? Consider the following guidance.
Contact a Lawyer Right Away After a Truck Accident
Truck accidents can be devastating, causing severe injuries and extensive property damage. If an accident results in serious injuries or a fatality, hiring a lawyer becomes essential. Don’t delay.
Beyond immediate concerns, such incidents often incur substantial medical expenses and long-term care needs. The federal and state laws for trucking can also complicate matters.
Hiring a skilled attorney early on can help you navigate the entire legal system. That way, you can successfully seek justice and a fair settlement after a collision.
For a free legal consultation, call (801) 266-0999
When You Need to Build a Strong Case With Powerful Evidence
When you reach out to a lawyer after a truck accident, the goal is to deal with the immediate aftermath and protect your future.
Your attorney will gather evidence such as:
- Police reports
- Witness statements
- Surveillance footage
- Photographs from the scene of the accident
When you reach out to a truck accident lawyer promptly, he or she can carefully investigate the accident, analyze the facts, and come up with a solid strategy to resolve your case with success.
When Injuries Limit Your Ability to Work
Suffering injuries in a truck accident can have devastating consequences on your life. What if you are unable to perform your job duties due to the physical limitations caused by the accident? This can lead to financial strain and uncertainty about how you will support yourself and your family.
By working with an experienced lawyer, you can seek the following compensation:
- Lost wages
- Future earning potential
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
- Damages related to your livelihood
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Even When You Feel Uninjured
After being involved in a truck accident, you might feel lucky to walk away without any visible injuries. However, not all injuries manifest themselves immediately. Some injuries can take hours or even days to show symptoms. This is especially true for internal injuries or concussions.
Whiplash or soft tissue damage may not present immediate symptoms, but these conditions can cause chronic pain and complications. Other injuries, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, may not be physically apparent but can still have long-lasting effects on your well-being.
A Utah truck accident attorney can help you understand the potential long-term effects of your injuries and pursue appropriate compensation for medical expenses and lost wages.
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Even When Damages Are Minor
A Utah truck accident lawyer can help you recover various types of damages, such as:
- Economic damages: These include medical expenses, lost wages due to time off work, and property damage costs. Your lawyer can work diligently to calculate the full extent of these damages.
- Non-economic damages: A truck accident attorney can also assist in recovering non-economic damages. These are more subjective and may consider pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, and decreased quality of life. Although more challenging to quantify, an experienced lawyer knows how to present evidence effectively to support your claim for these types of damages.
- Punitive damages: If the negligent or wrongful actions of another party caused the accident, thereby resulting in your injuries and losses, punitive damages may also be pursued. Punitive damages aim not only to compensate you for your harm but also serve as a deterrent against similar behavior from others in the future.
If the accident seems like a minor incident, you might be tempted to handle things on your own. Remember: What appears minor today might escalate into major problems later.
Additionally, the legal process, even for seemingly minor truck accident cases, can be complex. If you have experienced damages, contacting an attorney ensures that you are equipped with the knowledge and advocacy necessary to protect your well-being and secure just compensation.
When You Need Someone to Negotiate on Your Behalf
When it comes to truck accidents, dealing with insurance companies can feel daunting and overwhelming. Insurance companies are notorious for trying to minimize their payouts and may employ tactics to undermine your claim.
Your personal injury attorney can talk to the insurance company on your behalf. He or she will be familiar with the insurance company’s tactics and know how to deal with them.
In the meantime, you can rest and focus on yourself and your family – as you should at a hard time like this.
Sometimes, there may be a debate about who is at fault or how much insurance money is available. This often happens if it involves different types of insurance (like commercial and personal). Nonetheless, a skilled lawyer can protect your rights.
When You Need to Meet Important Deadlines
Contacting a lawyer after a truck accident is crucial, not only for the immediate steps in building your case but also to ensure that you meet important deadlines and comply with the statute of limitations.
The statute of limitations refers to the time period within which you must file a lawsuit. A time limit of some duration applies to most legal cases.
In Utah, the time limit for personal injury cases, including truck accidents, is generally 4 years from the date of the accident. Missing these deadlines could result in your case being dismissed by the court without even being heard on its merits.
Don’t risk losing your chance at justice and compensation by delaying or attempting to handle these matters on your own. By consulting an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible, you can avoid missing any critical deadlines.
An Attorney Can Help Even If You Were Partially At Fault
Contacting a truck accident attorney is crucial, even if you believe that you were at fault for the accident. Determining liability in a truck accident can be complex. Even if you believe you were at fault, there could be other contributing factors that played a role in the crash.
Utah follows comparative negligence laws. This means fault can be divided between multiple parties involved in a local accident. So, if you were partially responsible for the collision, you might still be entitled to receive compensation for damages sustained.
After Being Hurt in a Truck Accident, Call Siegfried & Jensen Today
When should you consult a truck accident lawyer? If you want justice and fair compensation, you should contact a reliable truck accident attorney immediately.
At Siegfried & Jensen, we understand the complexities involved in truck accident cases. Our team of highly experienced Utah truck accident lawyers is dedicated to fighting for justice on behalf of our clients.
So leave things to our law firm. We can investigate every aspect of your case, gather evidence, interview witnesses, negotiate with insurance companies, and build a strong strategy tailored to your specific needs.
We believe that everyone deserves access to competent legal representation, which is why we offer free initial consultations. This means you can discuss the details of your case with our attorneys without any obligation or upfront fees.
Let us handle the legal complexities while you focus on healing and recovery. Utah is home to our offices in Salt Lake City, Ogden, Orem, St. George, Layton, and Logan with new locations set to open in Saratoga Springs, Payson, and West Valley. In Washington, look for us in Spokane with Spokane Valley joining soon. In Idaho, we’re established in Boise and gearing up for expansion in Meridian.
Contact us today through our online form or call (801) 845-9000.
Call or text (801) 266-0999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form