If you were a victim of a truck accident caused by an at-fault trucker, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries under Virginia law. However, settling your claim with the insurance company may be way harder than you think—even if the truck driver’s negligence was clear cut. Here are five reasons these claims are often complex and take a long time to settle.
1. Serious Injuries
It is common for victims to suffer more serious injuries or be killed in a truck accident. They can suffer long-term injuries, like traumatic brain injury, paralysis, or internal organ damage, that can require expensive medical treatments and affect their ability to work for the rest of their lives.
When their injuries are permanent, victims are entitled to more compensation from the trucker and trucking company. This can make settling their claim more challenging.
2. High Stakes
The trucking company and trucker will have much more insurance coverage to fully compensate a victim of a truck crash. Unfortunately, the insurance company will more likely fight harder and longer not to settle the claim because of the large value of the claim.
3. More Regulations
Truck drivers and trucking companies must follow complicated state and federal regulations designed to prevent accidents. These include rules on trucker qualifications, truck maintenance, hours a truck driver can drive without taking a break, and much more.
In many truck collisions, violations of these laws may have caused or contributed to the crash. This can make determining the cause of the wreck more complicated.
4. Sophisticated Negligent Parties
There are often multiple parties who are liable to compensate the victim in a truck accident case. Some of them are sophisticated corporations who have more resources to fight paying the victim what they deserve. Common liable parties could include:
- Trucker
- Trucking company
- Truck maintenance facility
- Shipper
- Truck and parts manufacturer
5. Different Negligence Claims
Truck drivers cause truck accidents by speeding, distracted driving, intoxication, and other unsafe driving practices. However, the cause of a truck collision can be based on negligence claims unique to these wrecks, such as negligent hiring, hours of service violations, and lack of truck maintenance.
These are just a few of the complications that could make settling your truck crash claim more difficult. You need the help of an experienced truck accident lawyer if you want to win your case. To learn about our track record of success in these cases and how we can assist you, call our Norfolk office to schedule your free consultation today.
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