You probably have many questions if you were recently involved in a truck crash in the Detroit region. You may wonder how long you will need to recover from the injuries you sustained, and if your life will be different in the future. You may also be concerned about the medical bills, property damage, lost wages and other expenses following a truck crash. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. You may end up with a settlement that is far less than the actual value of your case.
Your concerns are valid. It’s good to know that working with an Detroit Truck Accident Lawyer will ensure that your interests are prioritized and that you receive the settlement you deserve.
Detroit Truck Accident Settlement Factors
Your final settlement offer can be affected by a number of factors. A Detroit truck accident attorney will be familiar with all of these factors (and others) and can help you decide whether or not your settlement offer is fair.
Your injuries (and their severity)
Due to the size of a semi-truck, accidents can be very serious. The average semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. It’s not surprising that truck accidents often result in serious injuries.
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries (such organ damage or bleeding)
- Cuts and lacerations that are severe
- Spinal cord injury
- Brain injuries
- Whiplash
The insurance company is responsible for covering the medical expenses incurred by truck injuries. The severity of your injury and the treatment required will impact the amount you receive. For example, a broken bone will cost less than an injury requiring lifelong treatment and care (such as a brain injury).
Psychological Trauma
Many trucking accident victims may also be eligible for compensation if they suffer psychological trauma as a result. You may not be able to perform some activities in your life if you are injured to the point that you need lifelong treatment and care. Some accident victims also face mental health issues in the wake of their accident.
- Anxiety
- The following are some of the ways to reduce your risk:
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Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
You should seek treatment and further evaluation if you suffer from psychological trauma after a truck crash. You should include these expenses in your insurance claim, and any subsequent settlement offer.
Lost Wages
You may be entitled to compensation if you are unable to work after your Detroit truck accident for a period of time. If you missed a week of work due to being hospitalized after your accident, you should be compensated for the week you missed. If you’re forced to leave your job due to psychological or physical injuries sustained in an accident, or if it becomes difficult to find work in the future, compensation should be included in your settlement.
Detroit Truck Accident Negotiations: Avoid these common mistakes
Here are a few factors that may come into play in the settlement of a Detroit trucking accident case. You should avoid making some mistakes if you have recently been involved in a trucking accident in the Detroit area.
Failure to Document Everything
The documentation will be crucial in ensuring that you get a fair settlement. If you do not keep detailed records about your accident, and the case you are involved in, it may be difficult to reach a fair settlement.
You should then ensure that you keep detailed documentation (or have someone assist you if you can’t). You should also keep copies of all relevant documents, such as police reports, medical invoices, estimates for property damage repairs, and proofs of lost wages.
Posting about the case on social media
A common mistake that you should avoid following a truck crash is to post about your case or settlement on social media. Insurance companies have investigators and representatives who are always looking for evidence that would justify dropping your claim, or giving you less money than you deserve. You will benefit from keeping your social media accounts locked and refraining from posting/commenting about your accident.
Accepting your first settlement offer
Insurance companies often offer a lowball settlement soon after a trucking crash in hopes that you will accept it and move on. Accepting the first settlement offer may seem like a good idea, but it’s unlikely to cover your medical expenses, lost wages and other expenses resulting from the accident.
You’re better off fighting for the full amount of compensation you are entitled to, rather than accepting an initial settlement.
You Can’t Represent Yourself
The worst mistake that you can make after a truck crash is to move forward without the help of an experienced Detroit truck injury lawyer. It’s important to have your own legal team, as insurance companies also have a strong legal department. Negotiating with an insurance company and their lawyers can be difficult, frustrating and rarely result in a positive outcome.
How a Detroit truck accident lawyer can help
A Detroit truck accident attorney will be familiar with Michigan’s liability laws, insurance regulations and any other factors that may affect your claim. You can get an accurate estimate of the settlement you might be entitled to by consulting with a truck accident lawyer . This is true even if you have already received a settlement offer from your insurance company.
A truck accident attorney will also have experience in negotiating on your behalf with insurance companies. The lawyer will know how to take advantage of state laws and documentation to your benefit while handling any communication and negotiation for you so that you can concentrate on recovering from the accident.
It’s hard enough to deal with the aftermath of an accident involving a truck in Detroit. Do not make the situation worse by proceeding without legal representation. Goodman Acker can help you if you have been injured in an accident, whether it was a truck rear-ended in Saginaw, or a jackknife on I-75.
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