If you have been injured in a commercial trucking accident, hiring an experienced truck accident attorney is one of the best things you can do for yourself and anyone else affected by the crash.

Truck accidents often lead to serious injuries that require serious short-term treatment and years of intensive recovery. Your insurance may cover some of the costs of your immediate medical care, but it is unlikely that your benefits will cover lost wages, emotional distress, psychological injuries, and other consequences of the accident.

Insurance coverage will not pursue punitive damages, either. Unlike compensatory damages, which seek to award compensation for economic losses and non-economic consequences, punitive damages are brought against the liable party in order to punish them for their actions. Your attorney will advise you if you have the right to pursue punitive damages based on the circumstances of your accident.

It is also in your interests to contact a truck accident attorney right away to ensure that the causes of the accident are thoroughly investigated. Trucking companies have records of the hours their drivers were on the road, safety inspections, and other information that could be used as evidence in your case. Trucks also have onboard data systems that track important metrics, including those leading up to the accident. However, trucking companies often intentionally — and legally — erase the records that could be used against them. The longer you wait to contact a truck accident attorney to represent you, the stronger the opposition’s case against you could be.

Your case may require consultations with medical experts, crash scene reconstruction, and other investigative services. Few victims can afford these kinds of legal services immediately after an accident.

That should not stop you from contacting a truck accident attorney at Metier Law Firm if you have been injured.

At Metier Law Firm, we understand that you and your loved ones are going through an extraordinarily difficult time and have enough to think about. We do not charge retainer fees — we work on a contingency fee basis and focus on your case before anything else. We handle the financial part of your case only once we win or settle your case. You and your family are always our top priority.

No, you should not contact an auto accident attorney after a trucking accident. Although many people mistakenly — but understandably — contact auto accident law firms after sustaining serious injuries, trucking accidents are highly complex and need to be handled by someone with extensive experience.

Given that commercial trucks can weigh anywhere from 10,000 pounds to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, accidents caused by commercial trucks are more likely to result in serious personal injuries. A highly skilled truck accident attorney will be able to work with medical specialists and other parties to determine what kind of care you will need as a result of your injuries.

Furthermore, truck accident cases often have more liable parties than the typical auto accident. The driver, corporation, truck manufacturer, and cargo loaders are just a few of the parties who could potentially be held liable for the accident. Each of these liable parties will also have their own attorneys, insurance companies, and investigators that your law firm must be prepared to handle.

You should start by requesting a consultation to discuss your case. At Metier Law Firm, we offer free, no-risk consultations for our clients so that you can know what your options are. We will provide you with an honest, direct assessment of your case and do everything in our power to help you, even if you do not ultimately choose us to represent you.

During your consultation, you should ask about the firm’s attorneys and their experience with truck accidents, as well as their experience with cases similar to yours. Some injuries, like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and amputations, require extensive knowledge that goes far beyond knowledge of trucking laws and regulations. At Metier Law Firm, we have more than 30 years of experience handling complex accidents and serious injuries resulting from them.

Learn more about what to look for in a truck accident attorney.

No, you should never talk to the trucking company’s attorneys or insurance company after an accident. Commercial trucking companies often have teams of attorneys and investigators standing by to respond to accidents, and unfortunately, getting you to say something inadvisable is one of the most common strategies they will employ to protect themselves and their bottom line.

If someone reaches out to you on behalf of the trucking company for a statement, to sign a document, or anything else relating to your accident, you should consult with your attorney before doing anything. Remember, it is in the trucking company’s interests to mount a case against you as soon as the accident occurs. Should you give them a statement or sign a document you have not discussed with your attorney, you risk damaging your case and receiving less compensation than you deserve.

The answer to this question will usually depend on your specific auto insurance policy. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, we recommend investing in as much collision coverage as you can secure through your policy.

See our Vehicle Insurance Coverage resource page for additional recommendations.

If you cannot return to your career due to the injuries sustained in an accident, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for your reduced economic opportunity. Further, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for the wages you lost as a result of the accident. An experienced truck accident attorney will help you develop a life care plan that takes into account how your injuries, the time it takes you to recover, and long-lasting injury repercussions all affect your economic opportunities.

When you choose to work with Metier Law Firm, you can rest assured that we will work tirelessly to secure maximum compensation for both lost wages and lost economic opportunities so that you and your family can continue living your lives.

If death results from a trucking accident or injuries caused by it, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the deceased person. Whether or not you can file a wrongful death suit following a truck accident will depend on the state in which the accident occurred. In some states, extended family such as cousins, grandparents, aunts, and uncles can file a wrongful death claim. In others, the scope is more limited and may be restricted to parents or children.

At Metier Law Firm, we understand that research is the last thing on your mind in the wake of a loved one’s wrongful death. We serve clients across the nation and will help you determine whether or not you can file a wrongful death claim after a commercial trucking accident.

See our Wrongful Death page for more information.