You might not know that the average truck liability policy carries a value more than 50 times that of your average car insurance policy. This is because commercial trucks, with their huge mass and enormous momentum, can cause such catastrophic damages in a crash. In collisions with 18-wheelers, typically other vehicles are crushed and drivers and passengers face life-threatening injuries. Many victims do not survive truck accidents. Our Houston truck accident attorneys have seen too many accidents where the victims suffer horrific underride accidents.
The big insurance company that covers the truck, when faced with an 18-wheeler accident claim that could result in millions of dollars in liability, begins to aggressively prepare a defense strategy to try and find ways to avoid at least some of that huge cost.
The companies that insure trucks know the high statistical probability of serious big rig accidents. They have highly paid professional actuaries and detailed computer models that keep them apprised of these probabilities. And so the big insurance companies maintain senior teams of investigators and insurance claims and defense specialists always at the ready. When an accident happens, these teams can appear on the scene almost immediately to begin their investigation. This is usually well before the hapless victims have even begun to think about hiring attorneys of their own.
The common purpose of the insurance defense team members is to save their employer money. They do this by finding ways to shift the blame for the accident to the victim. Our Houston truck accident attorneys mention that the State of Texas follows the doctrine of “modified comparative negligence.” This doctrine allows defendants to escape all financial liability for a crash if they can show that the victim was at least 50% responsible for causing the accident and his or her own injuries.
The trucker and his insurance company then don’t have to pay you a cent. That’s their goal. They’re very good at it. They’ve had years of practice.
To achieve their goal, an insurance adjuster may approach you trying to elicit admissions of fault and statements about the accident. Removed from their original context, even innocent statements might be twisted to mean just about anything.
That insurance adjuster also might try to convince you that your claim has no merit and that they’ll be able to show that you’re at fault for the accident. Then the adjuster will offer you a quick and easy way out of danger: just sign a release form. If you are shrewd enough to refuse to sign and to stand by your claim, then the adjuster might offer you a quick cash settlement.
Once you accept a settlement offer, you have released your legal right to sue for any further financial compensation. You can be sure that any settlement offer you receive without the counsel of your own attorney represents but a fraction of the true worth of your claim. So don’t accept a settlement offer before you obtain the advice of your own Houston truck accident attorney. He will know the true worth of your claim and can help you safeguard your rights and interests in the matter.
Over our years going head-to-head against the big insurance companies in truck crash cases, we have yet to hear of anyone successfully representing themselves against a trucking company and its insurer. This is because 18-wheeler accident cases are highly convoluted, include a large number of contending factors, and involve highly technical matters of evidence. You simply won’t have the experience to successfully address all of the legal hurdles you must face in order to win a fair financial compensation award. And your inexperience could lead to costly mistakes.
To win your claim, our Houston truck accident attorneys emphasize that you must prove 4 essential elements of civil liability and damages against each of the negligent defendants you’ve named in your action. You’ll need to clearly prove the roles of each of the defendants in causing your accident injuries. And you must also adequately prove the existence and fair monetary value of each of your claimed items of damages. Valuation of damages is a complex art. And you will face fierce opposition from defendants who don’t want to pay you what they owe for the losses they’ve caused you.
With a determined opposition team arrayed against you, you’ll need the services of an accident attorney who knows when to be aggressive, when to let clear proof speak for itself, and how to combat the sometimes underhanded tactics you’ll face from the defensive side. Knowing the law is not enough. You need someone with the experience and practical training to correctly apply the laws to the unique facts and circumstances of your specific case.
The Houston truck accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC know how to secure the evidence you need to prove your case. We can use that evidence to pressure your opponents into offering you a fair settlement for your injuries. And if they won’t settle and insist on a trial, we could use that evidence to convince the juror of the value of your claims.
We have the experience, ability, and knowledge to meet your opponents tactic for tactic, and to prepare a strong counterattack for every attack on your claim. We’ve been successfully resolving truck crash injury and wrongful death cases for years. We’ll do everything legally within our power to help you win the full financial recovery you deserve.
You need the accident compensation money to get back on your financial feet and to make you and your family financially whole again after a serious crash. Don’t waste your one chance to claim the compensation you need to heal financially following your accident. The Houston truck accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC have worked to build a solid reputation for staunch client advocacy, thorough case investigation and preparation, skillful settlement negotiation, and convincing trial presentation that our clients and opponents both respect. Put our reputation and experience to work for you.