Truck Accident FAQs
Most frequent questions and answers
Call the police right away so that they can investigate what happened. The police car accident report is a key piece of evidence in your claim. Stay at the scene and exchange insurance information and contact information with the other driver(s) involved. Get contact information for any witnesses, as well. Keep your comments to anyone at the scene brief, sticking to the facts of what happened. Even an innocuous “I’m sorry” could later be construed as admitting fault for the crash.
You do need to notify your insurance company promptly to let them know that you were involved in a truck accident—but remember that anything you say to an insurance company, even your own, can be used against you. Keep that initial conversation brief and stick to the facts of what happened. In addition, you should speak with an attorney about your legal rights as soon as possible. One of the main benefits of hiring an attorney is that we can deal with the insurance companies on your behalf, protecting your rights while you focus on healing.
The value of your truck accident claim is based on the severity of your injuries and the effects those injuries have had on your life. This varies widely from accident to accident. Between medical expenses, lost wages if you are unable to work, and other losses, a single crash can cause hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars in damages. The only way to accurately assess the value of your claim is to have an experienced attorney review all your accident-related expenses and the surrounding circumstances.
In Montana, there is a statute of limitations that specifies a deadline in which you are able to bring a legal claim. This deadline is dependent on the facts of your case. We strongly recommend contacting an attorney as soon as possible to ensure you protect your rights. Over time, physical evidence disappears and witnesses’ memories fade, making it more difficult to prove your case. The sooner you contact an attorney to discuss your legal options, the better the likely outcome of your case.
An attorney can investigate what happened, find evidence to prove that your injuries were caused by another driver or other negligent party, and advocate for the full compensation you need and deserve for all your accident-related losses, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. Your attorney will deal with the insurance company on your behalf and make sure your rights are protected throughout the claims process while you focus on healing. The insurance companies have lawyers representing their interests, and you need a lawyer, too.
Most injury law firms, including ours, work on a contingency fee basis. That means you don’t pay anything to your attorney out of pocket. Instead, if the attorney secures a financial recovery for you, you pay a percentage of the recovery as an attorney’s fee. If you don’t win, you don’t have to pay your lawyer a cent. In other words, the attorney takes on the expenses of litigating the case and the risk that the case may not be successful. The goal of a contingency fee arrangement is to make sure you can get a fair shot at the compensation you need regardless of your ability to pay.
Motor vehicle accidents happen for many different reasons. Some of the most common causes of crashes include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding drivers
- Texting drivers
- Drunk drivers
- Asleep at the wheel drivers
The circumstances of each collision are different. That’s why it’s important to have a thorough, independent investigation conducted. This is especially important if the at-fault driver claims you somehow caused your collision. Otherwise, you might not receive the compensation you deserve for your injury-related expenses.
Truck accident injuries can have dramatic effects on your life. Whether you’re dealing with whiplash caused by a rear-end accident, a back injury caused by a head-on collision or broken bones caused by a distracted driver, we can fight for your rights, every step of the way.
- Whiplash – One of the most common (and most misunderstood) injuries, whiplash is a neck injury caused by violent forward and backward motion of the neck in a car accident. Whiplash often occurs in rear-end accidents but can happen in other accidents, as well.
- Concussions – Head injuries are common in car accidents, as well as in motorcycle accidents, truck accidents and pedestrian accidents. Make sure you seek immediate medical attention if you have a head injury caused by a motor vehicle accident. Your injuries could be life-threatening.
- Neck injuries – From neck sprains and broken neck bones to upper spinal cord injuries, neck injuries caused by car accidents can be severe. Rear-end accidents are often to blame for these injuries but they can also occur in head-on collisions, rollover accidents and other types of crashes.
- Back injuries – Spinal cord injuries, lower back injuries, back sprains and broken bones – all of these are common injuries often caused by serious car accidents. Depending on the severity and location of the injury, you or a loved one could become paralyzed and lose the use of your legs, your arms or both.
- Back and neck pain – This type of injury might seem minor to some, but chronic back and neck pain caused by motor vehicle accidents can be excruciating and can impact every aspect of your life. That’s why it’s important to seek immediate medical treatment and then talk to a lawyer to learn more about your legal options.
- Passenger injuries – Whether you’re riding in the back seat, the passenger seat or the back of a motorcycle, injuries sustained by passengers can be severe or sometimes even deadly in certain circumstances. Passenger injuries can also often be very complicated since the injury victim knows the driver, who may be at fault.
