Role of a DC Truck Accident Attorney

When an accident occurs, after seeking medical treatment, the injured party should retain the services of a seasoned legal professional. There are many roles of a DC truck accident lawyer. An attorney could coordinate your medical treatment, negotiate with insurance companies, and help you get the compensation you need. Roger Gelb has the experience and knowledge to help you hold a negligent trucker accountable for your damages.

Determining The Liable Party

One of the first steps an attorney will take following a truck accident is to look at the police report. The lawyer is going to get the information from the claimant such as who was involved in the accident and how it happened. Other important information that an attorney will need is the driver’s name, and the trucking company. Once the attorney learns who the liable party is, they will then send a letter of representation to the trucking company, the owner of the trucking company to discuss the claim.

If the driver was not within the scope of employment when the accident occurred, then the truck accident attorney would look to the driver’s own personal insurance to provide secondary coverage for the loss. The police report would have the insurance information as well. Additionally, if the insurance information is not available, a lawyer could run the tag in the local motor vehicle administration.

What If The Trucker Is An Independent Contractor?

If the driver of the truck is an independent contractor, then they may have different coverage. They would have their own coverage, but as long as the trucker is working, then their own business coverage would be primary.

If a trucker was not covered by the business policy or the commercial policy that covers this independent contractor, then they may have to pursue this under the driver’s personal policy. But the independent contractor’s policy is available. Additionally, if the trucking company and their driver is not independent contractor with the trucking company, then they would provide the coverage for the loss.

Types Of Recoverable Damages

When someone is injured in an accident due to another’s negligent actions, they are entitled to be made whole again. That means that they are entitled to reimbursement for the property damage to their vehicle or to any personal belongings caused by the accident. Those involved in an accident are entitled to lost wage reimbursement, medical bills, pain and suffering. Those are generally what an injured party is entitled to after being struck by a negligent truck driver. Under certain circumstances, they may also be entitled to punitive damages depending on whether the truck driver was doing anything criminal in nature when the accident occurred that may allow additional damages.

Let a Truck Accident Attorney Help You Seek Compensation

There are many ways a truck accident lawyer could help following a collision. A lawyer could help coordinate your medicate treatment to ensure you are getting the best care. Additionally, a lawyer could collect evidence and help you seek compensation from the negligent truck driver and their trucking company. Schedule a consultation with Roger Gelb to learn about the role of a truck accident lawyer and how he can help you get the compensation you need to move forward.