Large trucks like tractor trailer trucks cause serious injuries or death in virtually all accidents in which they’re involved. These large commercial vehicles are simply so massive that passengers in other vehicles face extremely high risk of serious injury in an accident. However, truck accident cases are notoriously difficult to pursue in the court of law.
On his 18 wheeler accident blog, fellow truck accident attorney Michael Grossman recently explained why suing a trucking company can be a daunting process, even in cases where the damage caused by the truck was devastating.
It all comes down to money. The commercial insurance policies that cover these large trucks are priced according to the damages these vehicles can cause. These policies are typically valued 50 times higher than the policies that cover passenger cars. With that sort of money on the line, insurance companies are going to do everything they can to avoid paying up.
The driver of the vehicle is, unfortunately, not on your side either. His or her entire career is probably at stake in this case and he or she might do whatever it takes to get out of trouble, even if you’re the one who ends up paying for it.
To make things worse, the laws surrounding these accidents are complex to people who do not work with the laws on a regular basis. Commercial vehicles are regulated by the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration. These regulations create overlap between federal and state laws that allows insurance carriers to deny your claim based on a technicality you’ve never even heard of.
The insurance companies you will face in a truck accident will typically employ a team of experts, starting with the most ruthless and aggressive insurance adjusters in the business. These people have proven their ability to deny claims just like yours time and time again. They will be working around the clock to make sure their company doesn’t have to pay you.
In addition, commercial insurance carriers typically have a team of defense attorneys and accident recreation experts on retainer. This team will be sent to the scene of your accident before the truck driver has even left. Their job is to build a legal case against you using evidence from the scene, witness statements, or anything else they can find.
Note that a team of defense experts will be sent out to the scene of an 18 wheeler accident immediately. They will do everything in their power to make sure their company doesn’t have to pay money. Understand that big money is on the line. Trucking companies have been known to destroy evidence in accident cases. If you’re ever involved in a truck accident, and if you or an acquaintance is able to move around, takes photographs of the scene. If you don’t have a digital camera, then buy a disposable camera. You should also collect names and numbers of any witnesses.
Trucking companies have expert attorneys who are prepared fight for them. If you’ve been injured in a truck wreck, you need an expert Georgia tractor trailer accident attorney who will fight for you. At MLN Law, our attorneys are well-versed in the complex Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations that apply to commercial vehicles. Call MLN Law at 404-531-9700 to schedule a free consultation.