When Should You Get a Lawyer for a Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one have been in a truck accident, you may be wondering when or if you should get a lawyer.
There is no hard answer to this question — but there are many benefits a lawyer can provide if you are considering filing a truck accident claim.
Accident victims can hire a lawyer from our firm immediately after their accident if they wish. The sooner you hire a lawyer from our firm, the sooner we can get started on your case.
Reasons to Get in Touch with a Truck Accident Lawyer Right Away
Filing your claim sooner rather than later allows you to begin seeking compensation as soon as possible for your injuries.
A lawyer from our firm can help ease the process of filing your claim by offering legal support and advice.
The following are reasons to connect with a lawyer immediately after your truck accident:
A Lawyer Will Provide a Free Consultation to Review Your Claim
Unless you have legal experience, taking on the world of personal injury claims can be both intimidating and confusing.
A truck accident lawyer from our firm will provide a prompt, free consultation to review your claim. This consultation will include a thorough evaluation to determine whether you are in a position to seek damages.
If your situation makes you eligible to file a claim, your lawyer will help guide you through the process and offer support along the way.
Truck Accident Lawyers Can Handle the Insurance Companies for You
One of the biggest reasons filing truck accident injury claims can be so daunting is because they must be submitted through insurance companies.
Insurance is complex, and insurance adjusters may seem harsh as they perform thorough investigations of your claim.
This can be a taxing process if you are in recovery from injuries you sustained in the accident. Allowing a lawyer from our firm to handle the insurance companies will relieve you of this burden.
They Can Manage Settlement Negotiations on Your Behalf
If your claim is accepted, settlement negotiations are a large part of the claims process. During this time, your lawyer will work hard for you to receive a favorable settlement offer.
Insurance companies may reach out to you and offer you a low settlement in an attempt to get you to settle early on and at a fraction of the value of your injuries. A truck accident lawyer from our firm will fight for a fair settlement amount on your behalf.
A Lawyer Will Build a Solid Case if Your Lawsuit Goes to Court
If your claim does not reach a settlement, it may have to go through the courts. When you get a lawyer right away after the truck accident, this allows the lawyer to begin building your case right away.
Your lawyer will gather evidence and documentation to build a strong foundation for your claim, such as:
- Medical records
- Receipts
- Eyewitness statements
- Expert statements, if needed
- The police report
- Photos of the scene of the accident
Avoiding Mistakes that May Affect Your Claim
It is possible to submit a personal injury claim without help from a lawyer, but working with a lawyer helps avoid any mistakes that could result in getting your claim thrown out.
Examples of mistakes a lawyer can help you avoid include:
- Not submitting your claim through the proper channels
- Not including proper documentation required for your claim
- Not submitting your claim with proper signatures and in writing
- Not listing liable parties and an accurate assessment of damages
Filing within the Statute of Limitations
Working with a lawyer as soon as possible after the truck accident helps ensure you do not miss filing within the statute of limitations.
In the state of Louisiana, the statute of limitations is two years, according to Louisiana Civil Code § 3492. Typically, the statute begins on the day you received your injuries or learned about your injuries if they were not apparent at the time of the truck accident.
Giving Yourself Time to Heal While Your Lawyer Deals with Your Claim
Getting a lawyer to deal with your claim allows you to focus on healing instead of the many tasks involved in filing a personal injury claim.
For instance, they can complete the leg work to help you understand if your compensation will be reduced due to Louisiana’s comparative fault law (Louisiana Civil Code § 2323).
A lawyer from our firm will begin to investigate your claim as soon as you hire them and can provide you with an estimated value.
Learn When to Get a Lawyer for a Truck Accident
Deciding when to get a lawyer for a truck accident may be a task that requires too much from you while you are still healing or emotionally recovering from the accident.
That is why we offer free case evaluations — to provide truck accident victims with the information they need in order to move forward with a claim.
Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers now at (337) 777-7777 for more information.
