Truck Accident

If you have been involved in a truck accident, it is important that before doing anything else, you seek safety and then attend to any injuries you have sustained. If you are medically able, it is critical that you call the police immediately and gather as much information as you can about the motor vehicle accident.

If you are physically unable to gather information about the other driver or the accident details, you should ask a police officer or a passenger in your vehicle to gather that information and send it to you. It is extremely important that you gather the other driver’s contact information and truck registration. Gathering information about the truck, the trucking company, and the truck driver is an important first step to protect your rights. The police officer will be willing to help you, and the police officer is responsible for creating a police report as well. You should not rely solely on the police report for information, as it may not contain all of the details you will need to support and prove your claim. If you were unable to gather information at the accident scene, contact us to help you locate the necessary information. It is important to promptly gather information. Memories fade and information may become more difficult to find as time goes on.

You should promptly seek medical attention. You may not feel injured or you may think your injury is minor, but it is still crucial to visit a medical professional. Often pain and problems arise hours or even days later. The adrenaline and stress of an accident can also cause you to overlook or underestimate your injuries. Having reliable documentation regarding your injuries will be helpful when you are working with your lawyer to make a claim.

Next, you or your attorney will need to notify your insurance company about the incident. It will also be important to contact the insurance company for the truck driver. You will likely receive a call from an insurance adjuster for the other driver’s insurance company after notifying the company. The other driver’s insurer may try to persuade you to settle the case quickly. They may ask you to give a statement. It is important to let the insurance company know that you have an attorney and that you want your attorney present during any conversations with them. The trucking company or its insurer will want to take a recorded statement from you and, if you do not have an attorney involved, they may try to ask you questions designed to cast doubt on your claim or your injuries. The insurance company for the truck driver is not looking out for your best interests. They are trying to minimize the amount they have to pay for your injuries.

In truck accidents, there are often more parties involved. The truck driver was likely employed at the time and maybe driving a truck that does not belong to them. The truck company will likely want to protect their company and their driver from negative consequences and try to limit their liability. Do not accept any offers from the truck company or the insurance company without consulting with our Overland Park truck accident lawyers first. The insurance company is not your friend, and neither is the truck driver’s employer. The amount they offer you may be inadequate to properly compensate you for your injuries, medical treatment, property damage, and wage losses. 

Contact our office as soon as possible after your accident. Our Overland Park truck accident lawyers have been serving Kansas City and the states of Missouri and Kansas for decades and can help guide you to begin the process of securing the evidence and information that you will need. It is important to have a strong advocate on your side from the beginning of the process, especially after a complicated truck accident. We are here to help you.

Unlike a car or motorcycle accident, truck accidents are complicated by the number of parties involved. Some parties who may be responsible for your injuries include: 

• The truck driver
• The truck driver’s employer
• The owner of the truck
• The manufacturer of the truck and its parts
• The company that shipped or loaded the cargo

When you work with our Overland Park truck accident lawyers, we will work with you to determine who to hold responsible for an accident. We will not treat your case as though it is a typical car accident. We will use our decades of experience to hold the responsible parties accountable for the accident.

Generally, in Kansas City, a lawsuit for personal injuries must be filed within two years from the date of the accident, while in Missouri the time period is five years. Our Overland Park truck accident lawyers advise you to file your insurance claim as soon as possible following an accident. 

The sooner you begin the insurance claims process, the better. Not only will the information surrounding the accident be fresher in your memory, but the claims process may take time to complete.

A truck accident case is complicated. Like any motor vehicle accident, it can take anywhere from a few months to a few years to settle. If your case goes to trial, it will take longer than if it settles. When our experienced Overland Park truck accident lawyers work with you, we do our best to expedite the process while also ensuring that we maximize your recovery. We will take the time that is necessary to maximize your recovery. The bottom line is that we try to meet our client’s needs. If your truck accident case does not settle, we have the experience and skill to take your case to trial.

In almost all personal injury cases, our clients hire us on a contingency fee basis. That means that if we don’t recover money for you, you don’t owe a fee. If we are able to recover money for you, your fee will be a percentage of your recovery. You do not need to pay money in advance to pursue your case with our firm. We will advise you about what the likely and realistic outcome of your lawsuit will be and we will not accept your case unless we believe it is in your best interest to hire us.

At Morefield Speicher Bachman Law, we understand that choosing a lawyer is an important decision. We believe that you should feel comfortable with the legal team that you choose to work with. During your initial consultation, we will sit down with you to learn the facts and details of what happened during your motor vehicle accident. We will take time to understand your situation and determine the proper next steps. We will ask you about the details of the accident and request any information that you have regarding the parties involved, the police officer, and any other relevant information. From there, we will begin to create a plan with you that you are comfortable with. We will work closely with you to make sure that you get the best outcome possible.