The expert blog 0796

Diminished Value and Other Car Crash Insurance Issues Most people deal with an insurance adjuster long before a lawsuit is even a question. The adjuster's job is to evaluate the claim for the insurance company, and some common practices can lower what a claim is worth if they go unnoticed. Understanding these practices is one reason people consult a car accident attorney before they sign anything. Early calls from the adjuster The other driver's insurer may call withi

How Crash Reports and Dashcam Video Shape an Auto Accident Claim The evidence in a car crash claim starts to scatter within hours. Cars are towed and repaired, video gets recorded over and witnesses become harder to find. An auto accident lawyer typically starts with the police report, photos, video and the data stored in the vehicles. Here is how each source fits into a claim. What the police report contains When officers respond to a crash, they usually prepare a cr

Liability in Auto Accident Claims Explained Most car crash claims start with the other driver, but the driver is not always the only responsible party. An employer, the vehicle owner, a government agency or a parts maker can also play a role. Finding every responsible party is one of the first jobs of an auto accident lawyer, because each party may have separate insurance. Driver negligence A negligence claim asks whether a driver failed to use reasonable care. Typica

How Long a Car Accident Claim Takes, Stage by Stage Car accident claims move through stages that may take months or longer. The vehicle damage part often resolves within weeks, while the injury claim usually waits until medical treatment has run its course. A car accident attorney can explain where a given claim stands, though every claim is different. The first hours and days Medical care comes first, even when injuries seem minor at the scene, and the records made t

What to Know About Jackknife and Underride Truck Crashes Underride and jackknife crashes are two kinds of tractor-trailer collisions that frequently cause severe injuries. In an underride crash, a smaller vehicle slides partly or fully under a trailer or truck body. A jackknife occurs when the tractor and trailer fold toward each other, often across several lanes. Each raises its own evidence questions for an 18-wheeler accident lawyer. Why underride crashes are so dange

What to Expect From the Insurance Adjuster After an 18-Wheeler Crash After a tractor-trailer crash, an injured person usually hears from an insurance company long before any court is involved. Trucking companies and their insurers tend to act quickly, and the steps they take early can shape the claim. Knowing what to expect is one reason people contact a truck accident lawyer before giving a statement or signing anything. How much insurance a trucking company must carry

How to Choose a Truck Accident Attorney Hiring a truck accident attorney is a different decision from hiring a lawyer for a minor car crash. Tractor-trailer claims often involve federal safety regulations, electronic evidence and several insurance policies, and the trucking company often has its own lawyers and investigators involved from the start. The questions below can make a consultation more useful. Start with the license Before meeting a truck crash lawyer, con

Truck Accident Claim Timeline: From the Crash to Settlement A truck accident claim moves through stages that can take months or years. Some periods apply to the trucking company, such as how long it must keep certain records, while others apply to the injured person, such as the statute of limitations. A truck accident attorney can explain where a given claim sits in this sequence, though no two claims follow the same path. The first hours and days Emergency care come