Louisiana residents who have been injured or lost loved ones in collisions with commercial trucks may want to quickly settle with insurance companies in order to get some level of payment and just move on. However, the funds offered in insurance settlements may really be insufficient in the long run. The simple truth is, damages resulting from truck accidents can be extremely costly, and insurance providers are looking out for their bottom line — not the needs of the victim or his or her family.
Following truck accidents, insurance providers are often the second notified — police being the first. Before offering any sort of payout, they will investigate the incident in order to determine liability. If a victim is deemed partially at fault, they may offer little — if anything — in compensation. If the truck driver is believed to be entirely at fault, they may offer more, but it may still be less than what could be achieved by going to court.
Without legal counsel on one’s side, insurance providers may try to take advantage of the situation. This is why seeking out an experienced attorney before accepting any sort of settlement may be wise. One’s legal counsel may have the ability to negotiate a better settlement without having to go to court. If that is not possible, one’s attorney may be able to achieve higher compensation through litigation.
While it can be tempting to take the money and run, doing so may not be in a victim’s or his or her family members’ best interests. With the help of an experienced attorney, Louisiana residents who have been injured or lost loved ones in truck accidents do not have to settle for the bare minimum. They can seek maximum relief for their losses.
Source: FindLaw, “Should I Get a Truck Accident Lawyer?“, Accessed on Jan. 4, 2018