The semi-truck came out of nowhere, slamming into your passenger door at an intersection. Now, you're facing a totaled car, medical bills, and lost wages from time off work. The trucking company's insurance adjuster is calling, but you're hesitant. How can you be sure they have your best interests in mind?
The experienced St. Louis truck accident attorneys at Finney Injury Law know firsthand how challenging these cases can be. We’re here to get you the compensation you need to move on with your life after a devastating truck accident. Here's what you need to know about dealing with insurance companies after a St. Louis truck accident and how the right lawyer can make all the difference.
Truck Accident Insurance Claims are Unique
While car accident claims typically involve a single insurance company, truck crashes are far more complicated. Consider these factors:
- Multiple liable parties. Truck crashes often involve the driver, trucking company, truck owner, trailer owner, cargo shipper, and vehicle manufacturers. Each insurer will try to shift blame to minimize their payout. An experienced lawyer will work to determine all responsible parties and work with their insurance carriers.
- Extensive evidence. Proving truck accident liability requires analyzing logbooks, truck maintenance records, cargo manifests, and black box data. Trucking companies are only legally required to keep some of these records for a limited time, so prompt legal action is crucial to preserve the evidence.
- Catastrophic damages. The immense size and weight of commercial trucks mean collisions often result in serious injuries, significant property damage, and even fatalities. These high-stakes cases require aggressive negotiation to secure full compensation.
- Federal regulations. The trucking industry is governed by strict federal laws on vehicle maintenance, cargo loading, driver qualifications, and hours of service. Identifying regulatory violations can be key to proving negligence, but it requires deep knowledge of these complex rules.
Additionally, trucking companies carry much higher liability limits—often $1 million or more per incident. With so much money at stake, adjusters are especially motivated to undervalue your claim or find ways to deny it altogether. Protect your financial recovery by working with a St. Louis truck accident lawyer who knows how to handle these situations.
Trucking Company Insurer Tactics to Minimize Claims
Insurance adjusters have many strategies for reducing truck accident payouts, including:
- Requesting a recorded statement. The adjuster may pressure you to go "on record" about the crash and your injuries, then twist your words to assign blame or downplay your damages. Politely decline these requests and direct further communication to your attorney.
- Offering a lowball settlement. The first offer is rarely fair. Adjusters know you're stressed about bills, so they dangle fast money, hoping you'll waive your rights to further compensation. Never accept a settlement without consulting a lawyer first.
- Dragging out the process. If you refuse a lowball offer, the adjuster might switch tactics and stall your claim with endless paperwork requests or radio silence. Remember, they're hoping financial strain will make you more willing to accept less.
- Disputing the cause of your injuries. Truck crashes often cause serious injuries like spine or brain trauma. To avoid paying for ongoing care, the adjuster may argue your conditions were preexisting or unrelated to the accident. A skilled lawyer can gather medical evidence to counter these claims.
- Surveilling your activities. Adjusters often hire private investigators to photograph claimants after an accident, hoping to catch them in activities that undermine their injury claims. They may also scour your social media for posts that downplay your damages. Staying off social media and following your doctor's orders helps thwart these tactics.
How a St. Louis Truck Accident Attorney Can Help
When up against a trucking company's insurer, you need an advocate who levels the playing field. An experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyer will:
- Conduct a thorough investigation. Attorneys gather critical evidence like the crash report, witness statements, black box data, and trucking company records to build your case. These details are harder to access without legal representation.
- Calculate your full damages. Adjusters often focus solely on current medical bills, ignoring future treatment, lost earning potential, and pain and suffering. Your lawyer will assess all economic and non-economic damages to determine fair compensation.
- Negotiate aggressively. Adjusters take attorneys more seriously than individual claimants. When your lawyer presents a strong case backed by solid evidence, the insurer is more likely to offer a reasonable settlement to avoid a massive court judgment.
- Prepare your case for trial. If the insurer still won't cooperate, your attorney will file a lawsuit and present a persuasive case to the jury. Choosing a lawyer with courtroom expertise sends a powerful message that you won't back down.
Don't let a trucking company's insurer pressure you into settling for less than you deserve. At Finney Injury Law, our St. Louis truck accident attorneys have a proven track record of successfully handling commercial vehicle claims. We're not afraid to stand up to powerful trucking companies and their insurers, both in negotiations and at trial. We'll take the time to listen to your story, answer your questions, and keep you informed at every stage of your case.
