Fixing your Car after a Truck Accident

Accidents involving trucks have the potential for much more extensive damage than accidents involving passenger vehicles. Impact is usually more powerful, and the odds of a car surviving a collision with an 80,000-pound truck are actually quite slim. Whether your car can be fixed, or would be deemed unsalvageable, you deserve fair compensation for your losses.

Fixing your car after a crash is not a luxury, but a necessity. Many property damage claims will be straightforward and painless, but each case will be different. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident due to another driver’s negligence, we at 844 See Mike are here for you every step of the way to ensure that your rights are protected, and you are fully compensated for your injuries and losses.

Immediately Following an Accident

When you are involved in a truck accident, the first step is to make sure everyone is ok. Call 911 and do not refuse medical treatment as injuries might be internal or they may not immediately present themselves. Your health and wellbeing is much more important than physical possessions.

If you are able, document as much of the accident scene as possible. Everyone has a cellphone with the ability to take pictures and you will want to not only take pictures of the damage, but the accident scene, license plates, roadway, and anything else that might help your claim. Make any notes you may remember, such as weather at the time of the crash, if the truck driver was driving erratically, etc.

With any accident, it is also important to get all contact and insurance information for anyone else involved in the accident, including information for the truck driver, the company he may work for, the company who loaded the freight, as well as contact information for any witnesses. Contact your insurance company immediately and follow all their instructions as well.

Once a police report is filed, retain a copy and review the findings, making note of any discrepancies you may notice. You may also want to consider hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer following your accident. A lawyer will have access to evidence that is unique to trucking accidents, such as black box recordings, dash cam recordings, and the logbooks required by law for all truckers and trucking companies. This evidence will be valuable in establishing liability, especially if the insurance companies are dragging their feet or denying your claim altogether.

What is Covered?

If another driver is negligent for your accident, you are entitled to have your damages paid for. This not only includes the damages to your vehicle, but also any personal property contained within. This can include clothing, computers, glasses, cellphones, or anything else that was damaged during the accident. You will want to document what you had in the car and the damage done, as well as find the receipts from purchasing these items.

Insurance Claims

Once the proper insurance company has been alerted to the accident, they will send out an insurance adjuster to evaluate your damages. They may recommend a particular repair shop, but you are not required to use theirs. You are also entitled to get your own repair estimates, just be sure to keep all this documentation.

When the adjuster has finished their evaluation, they will issue a settlement check for repairs. If the repairs are too extensive based on the Kelley Blue Book value of your car, they will consider the vehicle totaled and you would be offered the fair market value of your vehicle and the insurance company would receive the title. Remember, though, that the insurance company will not be responsible for any loan payments left on the vehicle if they are in excess of your settlement, you will be required to pay the remaining balance.

Before you sign any settlement releases or accept any settlement checks, you may want to discuss your case with an experienced lawyer. You are not required to accept a first settlement offer and once your claim is considered settled, you are no longer entitled to any further compensation. Let 844 See Mike determine if you are receiving fair compensation for your claim or if the offered settlement is too low.

If you have any additional questions regarding your accident or how to proceed in fixing your car after a crash, contact 844 See Mike. We at 844 See Mike are proud to serve our fellow citizens in personal injury cases, especially when you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, and we are fully committed to protecting your rights and ensuring that the other party is held legally accountable when negligence occurs. We will fight until the very end to ensure that you are fully compensated for all injuries and losses resulting from the accident, including medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and you won’t owe us a dime for our services.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident due to another’s negligence contact 844 See Mike for a free consultation. Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people and not the powerful, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, and your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you.

Lastly, 844 See Mike is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.