The Defendant in Your Truck Accident Claim
Posted Friday, February 1, 2013 by Chris Thayer
A truck accident can cause serious injury and leave the victim unable to work while recuperating. If you are injured, your Seattle truck accident attorney will need your assistance in the gathering of certain documents. It may seem unfair, then, that the person who caused your accident will likely have little involvement with your claim.
Immediately After Your Accident
Both you and the defendant will have a bit of work to do initially after the accident. Your first job, of course, is to seek medical assistance. It is then a good idea to contact a Seattle truck accident attorney. The defendant will contact his/her insurance company and provide them with a detailed explanation of how the accident occurred.
Once the defendant has provided the necessary information to his/her insurer, the handling of your claim will be relegated to the insurance adjuster. This is the individual with whom your attorney will be in contact as a settlement is negotiated. The insurance adjuster probably won’t keep the defendant informed of the progress of negotiations. The defendant will carry on with his/her life, possibly half-forgetting that anything ever happened; you, on the other hand, will have a constant reminder of the truck accident—your injuries—for which you will need to continue with medical treatment.
If Your Case Goes to Litigation
If a settlement cannot be reached between the adjuster and your Seattle truck accident attorney, your case may need to be taken to court. The defendant will need to be involved if this occurs. Not only will he be deposed by your attorney, but he also will probably have to take the stand at trial.
It is important to keep in mind that should a trial become necessary, you and your attorney will not be suing the insurer, but rather the defendant. However, once a verdict is reached in your favor, it will probably be the insurance company that pays the award.
If You Have Been Injured
Given the nature and seriousness of truck accidents, if you are injured due to the negligence of someone else, it may be in your best interests to hire a Seattle truck accident attorney. Call Chris Thayer to arrange a free consultation today at (206) 340-2008.