When to Accept a Truck Accident Settlement Offer

One of the most important factors to consider following a truck accident involving a commercial truck is the truck accident insurance settlement that will be offered to compensate the injured party. The liable party, either the driver or the commercial trucking company itself, will make every effort to ensure they pay out as little as possible.

Truck Accident Insurance Adjusters Act Quickly for a Reason

More often than not, an adjuster’s first truck accident settlement offer will happen as quickly after the commercial truck accident as possible. The most prominent reasons they do this is because:

• The closer in time to the accident the adjuster approaches the injured party, the less likely it is the injured party has spoken with an attorney; and
• It is very likely not all of the injuries – especially chronic injuries – have yet manifested themselves.

If a truck accident insurance settlement offer is signed before all the injuries are known, the insurance company saves thousands of dollars while the victim is stuck with the medical bills. Therefore, it is crucial you speak with a truck accident lawyer before signing or speaking with any insurance adjuster.

Because the liability limits are higher with commercial trucks than regular automobiles, the insurance adjusters are more aggressive in getting premature truck accident insurance settlements signed. The insurance companies will not be looking out for your best interests. Their focus will be to settle their case for a fraction of what it is worth. Make sure that you have a qualified truck accident lawyer on your side to fight for your best interests and get you the settlement you deserve.

Truck Accident Injuries May Not Be Immediately Apparent

Following a major truck accident, most people do not know the extent of physical or financial difficulty they will be facing. Before signing any settlement, an injured party will need to consider the following factors to determine the value of their injuries and damages:

• The full extent of injuries as some do not immediately appear or worsen with time
• Past and future medical expenses
• The damage done to present and future earning ability
• Property damage
• The mental effects of the crash

The amount an injured party is compensated depends on many variables including the nature of their work, the damage to the vehicle involved in the truck accident and the extent of their injuries. All of these factors should be considered and evaluated by an experienced personal injury attorney prior to making any settlement. Speaking to a truck accident lawyer prior to settlement is essential to making sure the injured party recovers what they are owed, both now – and in the future.