Trucking agencies and their insurers have a legal obligation to look out for accident victims. Unfortunately, neither of these parties will be quick to shell out a fair settlement after your collision with a semi-truck. Fortunately, you don’t have to recover on your own. You can trust a truck accident lawyer in Lexington to spearhead your recovery.
The Lexington personal injury lawyers with John Foy & Associates have spent decades advocating for victims of other people’s negligence. We’ve recovered over $1 billion on behalf of our clients, and we have 350 years of combined experience.
The sooner you book your free case consultation with our team, the sooner you can start the fight for the financial aid you deserve.
Who Can Truck Accident Lawyers in Lexington Hold Accountable for Your Losses?
There are a few different parties you can hold accountable for a truck accident after a collision, and these parties won’t always include the driver. For example, if a truck driver works as an employee with a trucking agency, you may have the right to sue that agency but not the individual driver.
However, circumstances like this are rare. The majority of today’s trucking agencies prefer to work with independent contractors, namely because those corporations don’t have to recognize contractors as employees. While corporations might still provide those contractors with insurance under certain circumstances, your right to sue certain parties will vary.
That’s why we believe it’s important to discuss your right to recover from a truck accident with an experienced attorney. Lexington truck accident attorneys can assess the contracts involved in your case, what instances of negligence led to your accident, and what insurance coverage liable parties have, so you can file recovery paperwork with the right people.
What Evidence Do You Need to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit?
Whether you want to file a truck accident lawsuit or pursue an insurance claim, you need data to prove that:
- A liable party owed you a duty of care at the time of your accident
- That liable party violated their duty of care, either accidentally or on purpose
- That party’s negligence or deliberate recklessness had a direct hand in causing your accident
- You suffered economic losses as a result of that party’s misconduct
The evidence you use to make these points will vary based on the specific circumstances that led to your accident. Our team can connect you with professional investigators who can bring together black box data, relevant electronic data, physical debris, environmental damage, bystander statements, and expert witness statements to build your case.
Get the strong arm
Should You Accept a Settlement Offer After a Truck Accident?
Unfortunately, trucking agencies and their insurance companies want to sweep your accident under the rug as quickly as possible after your collision. As such, you may receive a settlement offer from a liable party or insurance representative very quickly after the crash.
You are under no obligation to accept the first settlement offer made to you, especially not if you’re still recovering from your accident. The first settlement offer you get will likely undervalue your losses. Signing a settlement agreement at this time may even accidentally rob you of some of your rights.
Our Lexington, SC, truck accident attorneys always recommend that you speak with a legal representative before accepting a settlement offer. If that initial settlement won’t support you throughout all of your recovery, we can go to the negotiating table to ask for the support you deserve.
What Compensation Can You Ask for When Filing a Truck Accident Claim?
When asking for compensation after a truck accident, our team accounts for the economic and non-economic losses you sustained as a result of someone else’s negligence. Your economic losses tend to leave behind a paper trail, making them some of the easiest to assign a dollar value.
These may include:
- Your emergency medical care
- Any prolonged medical treatments needed to restore your lost quality of life
- Property damage and replacement efforts
- Lost wages and/or benefits
- Funeral expenses, if a truck accident is fatal
You then have the right to request compensation based on your non-economic losses. These may include your reduced quality of life, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. You can work with our team to assign dollar values to these losses, as they don’t tend to generate invoices or bills.
When Should You Finalize Your Truck Accident Claim?
You need to finalize your truck accident claim before South Carolina’s personal injury statute of limitations (S.C. Code § 15-3-530(5)) expires. This statute allows you to take up to three years to bring together the evidence to hold a liable party accountable for your losses.
Unfortunately, missing your filing deadline can have grave effects on your attempt to recover from an accident. Most courts will not consider claims filed after a case’s statute of limitations expires, no matter how compelling the evidence therein seems.
John Foy & Associates Wants to Help You Recover From Your Recent Accident
You don’t have to let an insurance company dictate how you get to recover from a recent truck accident. If you feel like insurance adjusters are speaking over you or ignoring your requests for reasonable support, it’s time to turn to a truck accident attorney in Lexington for support.
John Foy & Associates brings over 350 years of combined legal experience to your pursuit of justice in the wake of a truck accident. You can count on us to check insurance companies’ bad faith tactics and to prioritize your right to fair accident compensation.
Your truck accident case consultations with our team come free of charge. Don’t delay. John Foy & Associates can help you kickstart your recovery today.
(404) 400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form