So you’ve been in an accident with a Truck (commercial vehicle). You are in pain and trying to figure out what to do about your injuries and your damaged vehicle when the phone rings and it’s the insurance company for the trucking company. They could not be nicer to you on the phone. They ask you if you are okay and if there is anything they can do for you. They want to help you sort this out but they just need to ask you a few questions. “Would it be okay if we recorded the conversation?” they politely ask. You are hopeful they are going to listen to what you have to say and immediately agree to take care of everything. What do you do next?
The Truck Driver’s Insurance Company Is Not Your Friend
There are a few things you need to understand. First, the trucking
company likely has a specific department to handle claims following an accident involving one of their vehicles (risk management). They have one job – make sure the company is protected by avoiding or minimizing any losses caused by the accident. They are going to ask you questions in an attempt to get you to make a statement like, “Oh, I’m fine,” or “It’s not that big of a deal.” We say things like this because we don’t want to come across as a whiner or a drama queen. However, in the context of litigation you will need to convince a jury that your injuries have really impacted you and those statements in your recorded statement will come back to haunt you.
Second, there is no way the insurance company is going to just cut you a check or agree to pay your bills as you go. Their goal is to get as much information from you as possible. The currency of litigation is information. The more free information they can get from you the more likely it is they can minimize your claim. They will string you along being as nice as possible until it comes time to cut that check. At that point you will get a low ball offer (if you get any offer at all). By that time, you will likely have permanently damaged your case.
Finally, if you have been getting information only from the trucking company’s insurance company or risk management department, you are getting bad advice which favors them and hurts you. They will lead you to believe you can trust them and they are going to be fair with you. That is like asking a burglar in your neighborhood to give you home security tips. Just like the burglar, they will be exploring the potential weaknesses in your case and looking for ways to exploit them.
Never, never, never speak with an insurance company or a commercial company’s risk management department without speaking to an attorney first. No decent attorney would ever let you give a recorded statement to the trucking company. If you have any questions regarding how to proceed following a truck accident, Jones Wilson can help protect you from the insurance company and ensure you get the maximum settlement possible.
Have You Been Injured In A Henderson Or Las Vegas Area Truck Accident?
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident you need to speak with an experienced accident injury attorney as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Henderson office directly at 702.405.6000 to schedule a free consultation with our truck accident attorneys.
