As a trucking accident and personal injury attorney, I have seen every imaginable attempt by trucking companies to shift blame away from their drivers, trucks, and companies. This is particularly saddening because of the serious injuries to motorists that result from these crashes. Believe me, if a car is hit by a semi-truck or 18-wheeler, their massive weight mass results in a far greater impact and, sadly, more significant injuries. One thing is critical to state up front—you will need to have experienced trucking accident counsel help you attain any settlement from a trucking company. Barrett Law has the experience to help you through this process. Contact us now at (800) 707-9577.
Below are four common tactics employed by trucking companies to shield themselves from liability. They illustrate why you need an experienced trucking accident attorney by your side to take on the company’s legal team.
Dismantle the Truck—Often, trucking companies will declare the truck that injured you as a “total loss” or “totaled” and dismantle it for scrap. While that may sound innocuous, it is actually an attempt to destroy evidence crucial to proving your case. The company may be negligent if the truck was not maintained to a reasonable standard or was lacked required safety technology. Immediately dismantling the truck prevents you from attaining this sort of evidence and proving negligence. As experienced trucking accident counsel, I have the experience to attain a motion immediately to prevent this sort of action.
“Repair” the Truck—When destroying or “totaling” a truck cannot be justified, a trucking company will often “repair” it. While repairs may seem innocuous or reasonable after an accident, they may be an attempt to upgrade the truck so that it has safety features that it should have had at the time of the accident. Similarly, safety features that were not working at the time of the accident may be fixed to appear that they were. Again, as experienced trucking accident counsel, I have the experience to attain an emergency order prohibiting this sort of tampering.
Interfere with the Crash Scene—Trucking companies have teams standing by to rush to a scene of an accident. Once there, they often try to bias investigators by talking with police officers, gather up pieces of a crash so that they cannot be photographed accurately, and influence witnesses.
Destroy Records—As discussed above, there is evidence at the scene of the crash, but also in the company’s own records. Often after an incident, important records regarding safety inspections, driver complaints, and other evidence are destroyed. As experienced trucking accident counsel, I have the experience to attain a motion immediately to prevent this sort of action.
What Should You Do If You Were Injured in a Truck Accident?
If you were injured as the result of impact with a large truck, contact an experienced personal injury attorney so that you can focus on yourself and on your healing process. You may be offered a quick settlement after an accident in exchange for your agreement not to pursue a legal challenge. Do not accept these “low-ball” offers, as while they may be tempting when you are out of work and in pain, you are due much more.
Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if you have suffered an injury as a result of a collision with a tractor trailer or 18-wheeler.
Barrett Law has the experience to take on defense attorneys and trucking companies that are focused on denying your compensation for your injuries. Contact our seasoned Mississippi Trucking Accident Attorney now at (800) 707-9577.
