Maryland Truck Side-Impact Accident Lawyer
Side-impact collisions also referred to as t-bone accidents or broadside collisions occur when one car crashes into the side of another. This type of accident is extremely dangerous, as the individual(s) in the car that is hit, usually does not have enough time to properly react to the impending impact.
If you have been hurt as a result of a dangerous side-impact accident, contact a Maryland truck side-impact accident lawyer to have your claim evaluated. An experienced truck accident attorney can help you file a powerful personal injury case.
Dealing with Insurance Companies
A Maryland truck side-impact accident lawyer can speak with insurance company representatives on behalf of the injured person. Claims representatives are skilled negotiators and are motivated to settle cases for the least amount of money to save the insurance company from paying.
A claims representative may offer less money than a claim is actually worth, hoping that an eager claimant will accept the payment without asking further questions.
Attorneys can evaluate a claim and work with claims representatives to obtain the financial compensation an injured person deserves. This usually requires the disclosure of medical information (pursuant to HIPAA laws) in order to validate the claim.
Delayed Personal Injury Claims
In some cases, insurance companies may be motivated to delay the payment of a claim. This is because most insurance companies have money set aside for reserve payments.
Reserve payments usually collect insurance in interest-bearing savings accounts. The longer a claim is delayed for payment, the more an insurance company can collect on the interest that is accrued in the interim.
A clear-cut accident that seems like it should be paid immediately could instead be delayed for months or years before any type of settlement agreement is reached.
A Maryland truck side-impact accident lawyer can put pressure on the insurance company to pay a claim sooner by filing motions, making periodic phone calls, and acquiring insurance policy information to make demands in line with the insurance company’s authority.
Visible vs. Invisible Injuries
In some cases, an individual does not have a visible injury. Soft tissue injuries present some of the most common claims that plaintiffs file lawsuits for every day.
A soft tissue injury usually involves the damage of muscles and ligaments in a manner that results in a sprain, strain, or contusion to a body part. Some types of common injuries that result from a motor vehicle collision include:
- Sprains, strains, contusions
- Neck/back herniations and bulges
- Ligament Tear
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Fracture
- Headaches, dizziness, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Radiculopathy
- Broken bone
Cases involving trucks can be even more serious than with average cars because of the size and weight of the Big Rig.
Truck Accident Case Resolutions
A truck accident claim can settle in a number of ways. Most people assume that a trial is how most cases resolve, but in actuality, many cases are settled long before they reach the trial stage of litigation.
While prior results do not guarantee future outcomes, an accident victim can work with a Maryland truck side-impact accident lawyer to develop a litigation strategy for resolving the case. A case can be arbitrated, where the parties make their arguments to a neutral third party, who awards a sum of money based upon the evidence and testimony.
A case can be settled between the insurance company and plaintiff. This usually occurs as the result of numerous telephone calls between the parties or as a result of mediation. Depending on the facts of the case, an attorney can make a written application to the court, called a motion to request certain relief. In these cases, the attorneys make written arguments that are submitted to the court for an evaluation.
Benefit of an Attorney
If you have questions about your claim, contact a Maryland personal injury attorney for more information. Speaking with a lawyer is extremely important because accident victims only have three years to file a lawsuit.
Failure to file a lawsuit within this time frame will result in that claim being time-barred. If you or a loved one has been hurt as a result of a truck side-impact collision, call a Maryland truck side-impact accident lawyer.
