Tractor trailer and truck accidents lead to more than 4,000 deaths in the US each year. They are considered to be among the worst kind of auto accidents as most tractor trailers are much heavier than your average car and due to their large size and weight, it’s quite natural that more people get killed or injured as compared to a car accident.
How Are Tractor Trailer Accidents Different from Other Auto Accidents?
Tractor trailer accidents are quite different from other auto accidents. In the case of car accidents, liabilities of a car insurance company are capped at a much lower level.
Capped liabilities reduce incentives to fast-track the investigation or interfere with the evidence, and car insurance companies are not known to hire special investigators for each claim they process.
Trucking companies tend to carry unlimited liabilities due to the nature of their business, and there are no limits in most cases which means that a trucking company may be held liable for tens of millions of dollars for a single accident. They are aware of the dangers of a lawsuit and do their best to mitigate any chance of a lawsuit by taking preemptive measures.
Most commercial trucking companies maintain rapid response teams, which are dispatched to the site of an accident immediately after a crash to collect evidence, interview witnesses, take photographs, and collect measurements. It’s important to note that their sole concern is to protect themselves without necessarily having any sense of duty to the injured parties. So, if you have been injured in a tractor-trailer accident, then don’t be fooled by trucking companies as whatever they do after an accident is almost always done with the sole aim of protecting their own interests.
Secure Custody of Your Vehicle
You must secure the custody of your vehicle, and in no condition should you allow the investigators of the trucking company access to your vehicle before consulting your attorney. It’s essential to protect your car’s black box if you have one from any unauthorized access.
Don’t speak to the Defendant’s Insurance Company in the Absence of Your Attorney
Speaking to the defendant’s insurance company without your attorney can prove to be a big mistake as the insurance company is likely to frame questions to minimize the amount which they have to pay for your damages.
Most experienced attorneys advise not to give any statement or have an interview/talk with the tractor-trailer insurance company in the absence of your attorney.
Focus on Healing
Most people get so absorbed with the questions surrounding insurance and lawsuits that they forget about healing after an accident. You must not lose control and remember that healing must be your priority after suffering injuries in a tractor-trailer accident. You can leave the legal stuff to your attorney. An excellent attorney with prior experience of such cases frees you from worrying about the insurance claim or a lawsuit.
Find a Good St. Petersburg Tractor Trailer Attorney
It’s quite important to find a good St. Petersburg Tractor Trailer attorney who has experience of similar cases in the past and is well versed with Florida law.
You can also book a free consultation by calling us at (727) 498-8771 as we’ve helped numerous clients in tractor-trailer accidents.