There may be some cases that you can handle on your own without an attorney. If you were involved in a minor fender bender with no injuries and little damage to your vehicle, you probably will not need an attorney to help with the accident.
However, you should never attempt to handle a legal case resulting from an accident with a tractor trailer on your own, for a variety of reasons. Typically, most accidents with a tractor trailer involve serious, catastrophic personal injuries or death, as well as huge damages to your vehicle. In addition, both state and federal laws and regulations are typically involved when a tractor trailer accident has occurred, which means the case is too complicated for a non-attorney to handle.
The biggest reason many victims of accidents in Atlanta want to handle their own cases is they fear that an attorney will take all of the money they win in their case. Those individuals may be tempted to work directly with the responsible party’s insurance company so that they get to keep all of their settlement.
Studies have shown that in most cases, when an attorney is involved in a personal injury case, the attorney will obtain more money for the claim, even after the attorney’s fees are deducted, than the individual would obtain on his or her own. It’s also very important to remember that an insurance company is not on your side, no matter what their commercials may claim. The primary goal of an insurance adjuster is not to make sure that you get a fair settlement after your Atlanta tractor trailer accident. The primary goal of an insurance adjuster is to minimize payouts on claims, in order to maximize profits for his or her employer.
If instead you hire a knowledgeable, experienced attorney, you will have an advocate fighting the insurance companies on your behalf in order to obtain the best result for you. If you have had very serious injuries, such as typically occur in a tractor trailer accident, you may be entitled to a variety of damages, many of which you may not be aware. You may be able to receive compensation for medical expenses, including future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, disfigurement, and potentially even punitive damages, which are designed to punish the wrongdoer. An attorney can help advise you of all the damages to which you are entitled.
In addition, the trucking industry is very heavily regulated. Trucking companies operate under a variety of state and federal rules and regulations, which govern the companies and how they operate. There are strict laws about how long a truck driver can drive at a time, how many consecutive days they can drive, how heavy their loads can be, and more. The trucker or trucking company involved in your accident may have violated one or more state or federal regulations, which can help you during your trial or settlement negotiations. Trucking companies often try to hide these violations, and an experienced attorney can help you gather evidence on your case. You also may be able to collect on several insurance policies, which is important to know.
If you have been injured in an accident involving a tractor trailer, semi-truck, or 18-wheeler, call the personal injury attorneys at Holston & Huntley. Call us today- consultations are free and you are under no obligation to use our services. We serve Metro Atlanta Georgia as well as Birmingham Alabama including surrounding areas.
