What Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Do?

What does a truck accident attorney do? A truck accident lawyer gathers evidence for your claim, calculates your damages, negotiates with insurance companies, and, if necessary, represents you in court.

Unlike a typical car accident case, truck accident cases often involve multiple parties, federal regulations, and insurance companies that aggressively fight claims. 

Trying to handle your own truck accident claim is risky. Without legal representation, you may not receive fair compensation. Our Fresno truck accident lawyers can help with every aspect of your case and help you secure the compensation you deserve.

What Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Do for Their Clients?

A truck accident lawyer strives to maximize your compensation while minimizing the stress of dealing with insurance companies and legal paperwork.

They do this by:

• Investigating the accident: A lawyer can gather police reports, witness statements, photographs, surveillance footage, black box data, and other evidence before it disappears.
• Determining liability: A lawyer can identify every party that contributed to the crash.
• Preserving critical evidence: A lawyer can send preservation letters to prevent trucking companies from destroying driver logs, electronic records, maintenance files, or inspection reports.
• Calculating your damages: A lawyer can evaluate both your current losses and future financial needs to determine the value of your claim.
• Reviewing federal trucking regulations: A lawyer can determine whether violations of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations contributed to the accident.
• Working with accident reconstruction experts: A lawyer can consult specialists who analyze vehicle damage, road conditions, braking distances, and other evidence to determine exactly how the crash occurred.
• Negotiating with insurance companies: A lawyer can handle settlement discussions with insurers and push back against unfair offers.
• Representing you in court: If negotiations fail, a lawyer can prepare your case for trial and advocate for you before a judge or jury.

How Much Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Cost?

The truck accident lawyers at Fowler | Helsel | Vogt represent accident victims on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not pay any upfront attorney’s fees. Instead, your lawyer receives a prearranged percentage of any settlement or court award they recover on your behalf.

If you don’t win your case, you won’t owe us anything.

When Should You Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer?

After a traffic accident involving a truck, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible. The longer you wait to get legal help, the more likely it is that crucial evidence will disappear.

It’s especially important to seek representation if:

• You suffered serious injuries.
• One of your family members died in an accident.
• A commercial truck was involved.
• Liability is disputed.
• Multiple vehicles were involved.
• The insurance company denied your claim.
• The insurer offered a settlement that seems too low.
• The trucking company has contacted you directly.

What Happens if You Don’t Hire a Lawyer?

You are not legally required to hire a truck accident lawyer after a crash.

However, without legal representation, you will risk:

• Accepting a low settlement offer: You may agree to compensation that does not fully cover your medical expenses, lost income, future medical treatment, and other losses.
• Overlooking important evidence: Critical evidence such as electronic logging device (ELD) data, black box information, maintenance records, or surveillance footage may be lost.
• Failing to hold all liable parties accountable: Determining who is responsible for your damages can be challenging when multiple parties share fault.
• Insurance companies shifting blame: Insurers may argue that you caused or contributed to the accident in an effort to reduce or deny your claim.
• Missing legal deadlines: Every state has deadlines for filing personal injury lawsuits. Failing to meet your state’s requirements could prevent you from recovering compensation altogether.

What Types of Evidence Does a Truck Accident Lawyer Collect?

Strong evidence is the foundation of a successful truck accident claim.

A lawyer can help gather:

• Police crash reports
• Photographs of the accident scene
• Vehicle damage documentation
• Medical records
• Witness statements
• Driver qualification files
• Hours-of-service logs
• Electronic logging device (ELD) records
• Truck black box data
• Maintenance records
• Inspection reports
• Cargo manifests
• Dashcam footage
• Surveillance videos

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Truck Accident?

Many trucking accidents involve more than one responsible party. Identifying every liable party in your case is crucial to recovering maximum compensation. 

Potentially liable parties include:

• The truck driver: Drivers may be responsible for speeding, distracted driving, fatigue, impaired driving, or violating traffic laws.
• The trucking company: Employers may be liable for negligent hiring, poor training, inadequate supervision, or encouraging drivers to violate safety regulations.
• The cargo loading company: Improperly loaded or overloaded cargo can shift during transport and cause serious accidents.
• The maintenance company: A business responsible for servicing the truck may be liable if poor maintenance contributed to brake failures, tire blowouts, or other mechanical problems.
• The truck manufacturer: Defective parts or manufacturing defects can contribute to crashes.
• Parts manufacturers: Individual components that fail unexpectedly may cause an accident.

Why Choose Fowler | Helsel | Vogt?

At Fowler | Helsel | Vogt, we combine local knowledge with personalized service to provide the support our clients need after serious truck accidents.

Here is what sets our firm apart:

• More than $100 million recovered: Since opening our doors in 2010, we have recovered more than $100 million for injured clients.
• Deep roots in the Central Valley: Every attorney on our team was born and raised in the Central Valley. We live and work here, giving us a strong connection to the community and the people we represent.
• A client-first approach: We believe you deserve personal attention, not to be treated like just another case file. Our attorneys are approachable, down to earth, and available to answer your questions throughout your case.
• Spanish-speaking staff: Most of our staff members speak Spanish.
• Help with transportation: If transportation to medical appointments is an issue, our client coordinator can help arrange rides for you.

Get Help from a Truck Accident Attorney

Truck accident claims are among the most challenging personal injury cases you can pursue. If you were injured in a crash that wasn’t your fault, the dedicated truck accident attorneys at Fowler | Helsel | Vogt can investigate the accident, handle the insurance companies, and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Book a free consultation to find out how we can help you pursue compensation for your injuries.