Truck accidents in Greenville are not your typical fender benders. Unlike ordinary vehicle collisions, they involve complex legal and logistical considerations. Commercial trucks are huge in size and weight, which increases the potential for catastrophic injuries and extensive property damage.
Additionally, truck accidents are governed by both state and federal laws. Therefore, victims of truck accidents require a thorough legal approach to secure proper compensation. If you’ve been in a crash involving a truck in Greenville, let our personal injury lawyers help prove negligence, which is key to receiving financial recovery for truck accident cases.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Greenville
What you do following a truck accident in Greenville is essential. Mostly, these steps are the basis for building your claim. This means your actions can make or break your claim. Here are the recommended actions after a truck crash:
Report on the Incident
The first step in building a winning claim is reporting the incident. In South Carolina, you should report accidents that lead to property damages worth over $1,000, injury, or death. Calling law enforcement ensures an official accident report is generated, which can be invaluable to your claim. Police officers collect key details at the scene, such as witness statements, photographs, and driver information.
Lawyers use these reports as foundational evidence to build their cases. They can confirm details such as the truck driver’s condition, vehicle inspection results, and weather conditions to effectively argue fault and liability. Attorneys may also leverage these reports to investigate potential violations of federal regulations governing truck operations.
Seek Medical Attention and Continue with Treatment
Visiting a medical professional after a truck accident is wise, even if you feel fine. Some injuries, such as internal bleeding, which often occurs in severe crashes, may not manifest symptoms immediately. An examination can identify hidden injuries before they worsen. Additionally, medical records are vital proof of linking your injuries to the incident in your case.
Equally important is continuing with prescribed treatments. This is because insurers often look for gaps in medical care to dispute claims. For example, if you skip follow-up appointments, they may argue that your injuries were not as severe as initially reported to lower the claim. Hence, you must follow the prescribed medical care to strengthen your claim.
Report to Your Insurer
Most policies require policyholders to report incidents within a specific timeframe. Failure to do so could jeopardize your ability to file a claim. However, note that when reporting an accident, you must stick to the facts and avoid making speculative statements about fault or the extent of your injuries.
Your insurer will open a claim and begin its investigation. However, it’s important to note that these entities are out for profit. They may seek ways to minimize their payout, so having legal representation at this stage is critical.
Engage Our Attorneys Right Away
Engaging a truck accident lawyer early in the process is highly recommendable. Insurance companies often employ tactics to exploit unrepresented claimants, such as offering lowball settlements or pressuring victims to accept fault. For example, they may argue that your injuries predated the accident or that you were partially responsible.
Our truck accident attorneys can shield you from these tactics. Your lawyer will ensure you don’t inadvertently say something that could harm your case. Additionally, attorneys conduct their investigations to identify all liable parties.
For instance, a truck accident attorney may analyze driver logs, black box data, and maintenance records to uncover regulatory violations. Armed with solid facts about the crash, your lawyer can effectively negotiate a fair offer or seek a court verdict if necessary.
Meet with Our Truck Accident Attorneys in Greenville, SC Today
A successful truck accident claim in Greenville requires robust legal representation. While sometimes clients can pursue justice alone, we don’t recommend such a decision for truck accident claims. The complexities of these cases require a legal advocate to protect your rights and optimize your recovery. Our truck accident lawyers in Greenville will support you through the process as you focus on healing. Contact us today to review your case and learn your legal options.