Truck accidents are severe collisions that can lead to serious injuries and thousands of dollars in damages. If you are in an accident with an Oregon truck driver, however, you could hold the driver, his or her employer, and many others accountable for the damages you sustained.
In these situations, you may wonder if you need to hire a lawyer to represent your claim.
The truth is that, in most truck accident cases, you need an attorney on your side—and if any of the following circumstances apply to your collision, a lawyer can help.
To prove your right to compensation, you will need to prove that the other driver is responsible for the accident. If the truck driver admits fault and you have a record of that admission, seeking compensation is relatively straightforward. However, if the driver refuses to admit fault or claims you are responsible for the collision, you need an attorney.
If you cannot prove that the truck driver caused your accident, your award could be reduced or denied altogether. This can prevent you from recovering from your injuries, leading to additional hardship later on. However, an attorney will have the skills, experience, and investigatory resources necessary to establish the other driver’s liability, helping protect your right to compensation.
To establish a truck driver or trucking company’s negligence, you will need to provide sufficient evidence. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the crash, you may need to request documents from the trucking company directly, such as logbooks or maintenance records.
However, the company may refuse to provide this information to you or take a long time to submit these documents for review—increasing the chances of tampering.
An attorney will have the authority to submit a formal request for these documents to the trucking company. He or she will have experience dealing with these entities and handle all conversations on your behalf. This relieves your investigatory burden, allowing you to focus on recovery.
Under Oregon law, you have the right to recover compensation for the economic and non-economic damages related to the collision, which may include the following.
Calculating damages after a truck accident can be very complicated. You may not understand your long-term care needs and be unable to calculate the full extent of your medical expenses. Additionally, calculating pain and suffering damages requires the knowledge of various formulas that an insurance company or court may apply to your case.
A Portland accident attorney will have extensive experience calculating damages on behalf of clients and will investigate all possible avenues of compensation.
He or she may enlist the help of expert witnesses, such as medical professionals and life care planners, who can calculate your long-term costs. Your attorney will also evaluate any settlement offers you receive, helping you avoid an insufficient offer.
If you are in a truck accident, you will likely need an attorney’s assistance. By hiring a truck accident lawyer to represent your case, you will gain access to resources, knowledge, and experience that can strengthen your overall claim.
As soon as you receive medical attention for your injuries, contact a Portland truck accident lawyer to discuss your path to recovery.