Insurance Settlements in a Maryland Truck Accident
If you have been hurt in a truck collision, you are not alone. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the number of injury crashes involving large trucks or buses was about 60,000 in 2009. This figure increased by 62 percent in 2015, indicating an increase in the number of truck collisions resulting in injury per year.
If you have been hurt in a Maryland truck collision, contact an experienced attorney to learn about insurance settlements in a Maryland truck accident. A lawyer can explain your rights, obtain justice for your claim, and help get you the compensation you deserve.
Where to Begin
The first step to take after a truck collision is to obtain the medical treatment necessary to get better. This may require calling 911, requesting an ambulance, visiting an emergency room, or scheduling an appointment with one’s primary care physician.
Most accident victims who claim injuries undergo a course of a physical therapy treatment. These medical records are used by the insurance company to validate the claim and evaluate the seriousness of the injury.
Next, document the claim. This is a crucial step that is often overlooked because some claims take years to resolve. What may seem simple to remember moments after a crash may become impossible to recall in the following years. Some details to consider include:
- Weather on the date of the accident
- Speeds of the respective vehicles
- Descriptions of drivers, passengers, and witnesses
- Contact information
- Roadway layout
- Unusual circumstances – such as the smell of alcohol, construction near the accident scene, etc
Obtaining a Settlement
Most people operating motor vehicles have some type of liability insurance, which is designed to protect the owner/driver from becoming personally liable as a result of an accident. Truck drivers often have larger policies from corporations that insure vehicles nationwide.
A truck accident victim should contact an attorney to investigate the claim, file a claim, and contact the insurance company. Attorneys generally know the questions to ask and the pitfalls to avoid in order to maximize a victim’s claim. Furthermore, a skilled lawyer will have more experience with insurance settlements in a Maryland truck accident.
Insurance claim adjusters can deny legitimate claims based on their review of the claim. Claims can be delayed if not handled correctly.
It is preferable for an attorney to speak with insurance company representatives, especially because insurance adjusters are skilled negotiators. Adjusters can sometimes convince victims to take a settlement offer that is much less than the actual claim.
Types of Settlements
A claim can be resolved in a variety of ways. If the parties cannot agree on the appropriate resolution, the case may go to trial.
Trials can be risky because of the high level of uncertainty involved. In some cases, jurors award compensation that exceeds the value of a claim, while in other cases, jurors may send a deserving plaintiff away with nothing at all.
Not all court cases make it to the trial stage of litigation. Some claims are resolved by agreement beforehand. This results in a payment made by the insurance company, usually within the limits of the insurance policy.
Rather than going to trial, the parties may agree to an arbitration or mediation. These are quicker alternatives that are generally less expensive than the costs incurred by a full trial.
In an arbitration, the parties generally stipulate to the admission of certain pieces of evidence and make their arguments to a neutral arbitrator. In a mediation, an unbiased third-party assists the parties with reaching an agreement.
Contact a Maryland Truck Accident Attorney Today
If you have been hurt in an accident, contact a Maryland truck accident lawyer for more information about settlements in a Maryland truck accident.
Under Maryland state law, an accident victim has only three years to file a claim for a personal injury before being barred from ever suing for injuries resulting from that accident.
Contact a Maryland personal injury attorney to discuss your rights and learn how you can work to obtain the compensation that you deserve.
