How do I negotiate with a trucking company or its insurance carrier after a trucking accident?

When it comes to negotiating after an accident, trucking companies and insurance carriers often have the upper hand. As soon as a crash is reported, an accident investigator is dispatched by the trucking company. The adjuster for trucking company’s insurance carrier also gets to work immediately after an accident. The adjuster’s job is to minimize the amount of money a carrier may have to pay to the victims of trucking accident. The adjuster will look for ways to shift blame away from the trucking company and onto the victim. As a result, it is seldom a good idea for victims to provide a statement to an adjuster. Similarly, before engaging counsel, accident victims should seldom sign releases that would permit access to employment or medical records or allow the adjuster to interview doctors. ... more

When it comes to negotiating after an accident, trucking companies and insurance carriers have the upper hand. As soon as a crash is reported, an accident investigator is dispatched by the trucking company. While victims are hospitalized or family members face the heartbreaking task of making funeral arrangements, the trucking company’s accident investigator is already hard at work preparing a defense. The adjuster for the insurance carrier also gets to work immediately after an accident. The adjuster, whose job it is to minimize the amount of money a carrier may have to pay to a trucking-accident victim or the victim’s family, will look for ways to shift blame away from the trucking company and onto the victim. As a result, victims should never provide any statement to the adjuster or sign releases that would permit access to employment or medical records or allow the adjuster to interview doctors. The victims of trucking accidents and their families need a level playing field, and th ... more