What Are My Rights as a Passenger in a Truck Accident?

Your rights as a passenger in a truck accident are (among other things):

The right to consult a truck accident lawyer for advice and representation
The right to sue the responsible party or parties for fair compensation
The right to file a suit based on a personal injury and/or wrongful death
The right to be treated fairly by the responsible party’s insurance company

How Can a Truck Accident Attorney Protect My Rights?

After receiving medical treatment for your injuries, the first thing you should do following your collision is to consult a law firm with experience handling truck accident cases. Lawyers can help protect your rights by:

Making sure you fully understand your rights as a passenger in a truck accident
Informing you of any deadlines that apply to you, including your state’s statute of limitations
Helping you decide which legal strategy might be best to use in your case
Providing advice and updates throughout your case so you can make informed decisions
Offering a neutral, professional perspective that gives you fresh insight into a situation that is very emotional and personal for you

If anyone tries to tell you that you don’t need a lawyer to settle your case, they probably have a vested interest in minimizing your payout. It is often best to consult with a lawyer before deciding whether or not to pursue legal action.

For a free legal consultation, call (725) 900-9000

Which Damages Can I Pursue as a Passenger in a Truck Accident?

Anyone who has been injured in a negligence-related motor vehicle accident deserves the chance to seek financial compensation from the liable party’s insurance company. This right applies to passengers, drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists.

Your lawyer can help you seek economic and non-economic damages, including:

Physical pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Reduced quality of life
Loss of consortium
Temporary disabilities
Permanent disabilities
Disfigurement
Medical costs, including related travel expenses
Property damage
The cost of hiring people to help you (e.g., a housekeeper)
Loss of wages and job benefits
Loss of earning capacity
Loss of your job or future job opportunities

Truck accident attorneys can manage personal injury lawsuits with minimal effort from their clients. These clients are typically people like you: accident survivors who have been through a traumatic event, who need time to heal, and who have other things on their minds besides legal matters.

What Can A Lawyer Do for My Truck Accident Case?

If you decide to seek compensation for your accident injuries, your attorney can make sure your case runs as smoothly as possible by:

Communicating with all involved parties via phone, text, fax, email, in-person meetings, and/or virtual meetings
Collecting evidence for your case file, including witness statements, medical records, video of the crash scene, trucking logs, and official police reports
Analyzing the evidence to determine your case’s worth and the identity of the liable party or parties
Pursuing maximum compensation, which may take the form of a pretrial settlement or a jury award

While you have the right to seek damages after a truck accident, you don’t have to conduct your case all by yourself. Your right to retain a law firm means that you can put your lawsuit in their hands while you put your life back together.

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Personal Injury Versus Wrongful Death in Truck Accidents

As a passenger, you may pursue compensation for your own injuries as well as any injuries sustained by a loved one who did not survive the crash. This latter case is referred to as a wrongful death lawsuit.

The rules for filing a wrongful death case may differ from those of personal injury cases, depending on where you live. A wrongful death attorney in your state can help you to better understand your rights during this difficult time and pursue compensation on your family’s behalf.

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How Insurers React to Truck Accident Claims and Lawsuits

The liable party’s insurance coverage pays any compensation you may receive based on their client’s negligent behavior. For this reason, some insurance companies may try to claim that their client’s behavior wasn’t so bad, or that your injuries are milder than you say they are.

The main reason insurance agents try such tactics is that they know more about insurance law than the average accident survivor.

If you hire a truck accident lawyer to handle your case, they can:

Speak to the insurance company on your behalf, including negotiating a settlement that meets your present and future needs
Help you decide what to say if you must speak to the insurance adjuster
Explain any actions the insurer may take to try to undermine your rights, such as asking for a recorded statement or offering a fast settlement
Follow up with the insurer if they are taking too long to respond to your requests or communications
Make it difficult or impossible for the insurer to dispute your claim by finding enough evidence to prove both the at-fault party’s liability and the severity of your injuries

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were 108,000 accidents involving large trucks or buses in the United States in 2020. Almost five thousand of these resulted in at least one fatality.

As a passenger in such an accident, you may have suffered just as much as any other party, if not more. The insurer should pay you what you deserve, and a truck accident attorney can fight to make sure that they do so.

We Fight for the Rights of Injured Truck Passengers

Contact Van Law today so we can evaluate your case in a free initial consultation. We can inform you of your rights as a passenger in a truck accident and help you take full advantage of them. When you hire one of our attorneys, we will file and fight your case on your behalf while you focus on recovering from your injuries.

At Van Law, we offer compassionate legal care and are dedicated to the success of our clients. Reach out today, but don’t wait. Your time to file is running out!

No obligation consultations are always free.

Let Us Help You! Call Now: (725) 900-9000

We are available 24/7

Client Testimonials

These guys are amazing. Helped me throughout the process. Always there when I need help. Inititailly called a law firm (the one that has lots of ads on the radio), but they declined my case. Van Law Firm accepted my case without a second thought! Kudos to Daniel, my case manager, and Amanda who expedited my payment process. Highly recommended.

Milby Mags

Got in an accident at the beginning of the year and they have been awesome, especially with it being my first accident and me being like this. They have been very communicated, stayed in contact with me the whole time, giving me updates when there were any and even when there weren’t and answered any question I had. I would recommend them to anyone. Everyone I have talked to there has been very friendly. I would give them a 10 out of 10.

Ethan Gullet

They made sure that my insurance company covered what I paid for them to which included the gap for my car that was totaled. My medical costs were taken care of and reduced substantially so I was able to get more on my settlement. My case manager, Will Garcia, was always helpful in assisting me and answering any questions I had. They really did an amazing job with my case. I would definitely recommend them to anyone in need of this type of legal help. Most lawyers do not help you with the recovery of the car and rental etc. They are amazing.

Teresa Cuthbertson