Should I Speak to the Truck’s Insurance Company After a Wreck?

TEXAS. The trucking industry is big business. According to the American Trucking Industry, trucking revenues exceeded $676 billion in 2016. With so much revenue, truck companies and drivers are required to carry high value insurance policies to protect themselves and their drivers should an accident take place. Some insurance policies can be as high as $1 million. If you’ve been in an accident due to the fault of a truck driver, you may be wondering how to make a claim. Should you speak to the truck insurance company after a wreck?

First, let’s go over your rights. You are never required to speak over the phone to the other driver’s insurance adjuster. You will need to let your insurance company know you’ve been in an accident, but you have the right to ask your insurance company to contact you in writing about your claim. In general, it may not be in your best interests to stay on the phone with the other driver’s insurance company. If you have questions about how to make a claim against another driver’s policy, consider reaching out to a qualified truck accident attorney, like the Cooper Law Firm in Texas.  Our attorneys can speak to insurance adjusters, review the details of your case, and fight to help you get the best possible settlement permitted under the law.

When another driver’s insurance company calls you about an accident, it is important to remember that the company may not be protecting your interests. Their goal is to pay as little as possible or to find you responsible for the crash so that your personal policy will be responsible for the damages. Anything you say to an adjuster can be used against you later should there be a dispute about fault.

If you do find yourself on the phone with an insurance adjuster, what can you do? According to USA Today, you should answer questions your insurance company asks you honestly, but don’t feel the need to tell the whole story in detail. It can sometimes be challenging to remember every specific detail just as it happened and if you tell more (or make a mistake in your telling), your insurance company may have more questions. Another thing to keep in mind is avoiding blaming yourself for an accident. There may be a range of factors that might have contributed to your accident, especially when a truck is involved. Truck companies are required to abide by strict local and federal laws. Drivers are required to abide by hours of service laws, get medical clearances, and truck companies are required to perform regular maintenance on vehicles. Any lapse in any of these areas could shift the blame.

If you do need to provide information to make a claim, having a truck accident lawyer like the Cooper Law Firm on your side in Texas can make a difference. Our lawyers can review your accident, read the fine print of your insurance policy, investigate the causes of your truck accident, and fight for your rights either inside or outside of court to help you get the best possible settlement permitted under the law.

Cooper Law Firm
501 N Third St,
Longview, TX 75601
Telephone: (903) 297-0037