Accepting the First Settlement and Other Mistakes A Pennsylvania Truck Accident Victim Commits
Getting into a truck accident can be scary, especially if someone gets hurt badly or a lot of damage is done to property. After an accident, victims often have to deal with rising medical bills, lost wages, and stress. Many people want to get their cases over with quickly, which is reasonable. However, rushing to accept the first settlement or making other common mistakes can have long-lasting negative effects. If you know what to stay away from, you can make better choices for your health and your money.
Accepting the First Settlement
Pennsylvania is known for having busy highways and interstates, which means that there are a lot of truck accidents there. After these kinds of events, it can be hard for the people who were hurt, especially when they have to deal with insurance companies.
Insurance companies often offer quick settlements in the hopes that victims will accept them before they can fully understand how much they’ve been hurt. But it’s important to talk to a Pennsylvania truck accident attorney before accepting the offer. You should not settle for less than what you deserve. An experienced lawyer can help you properly evaluate your case.
Why the first settlement isn’t always enough:
- They want to settle lawsuits quickly and for as little money as possible.
- Most of the time, the first offer doesn’t take into account long-term medical bills or lost pay in the future.
- It’s not possible to ask for more money later if you accept the first offer, even if your injuries get worse.
Not Seeking Immediate Medical Attention
A lot of people who are hurt in truck accidents make the mistake of putting off medical care. Putting off going to the doctor can be a big mistake, whether they are shocked, high on adrenaline, or think they are not badly hurt. If you wait too long to get care in Pennsylvania, your insurance company may use that as evidence that your injuries are not as bad as they seem.
Failing to Gather Proper Evidence
It’s important to get as much proof as possible right after a truck accident, even though things are going to be crazy. If victims don’t properly record what happened at the scene, it may be hard for them to prove their case later. In Pennsylvania, you have to prove fault in order to get paid, so having strong evidence can make a big difference in how your claim turns out.
Speaking to Insurance Adjusters Without Legal Representation
Talking to insurance agents without a lawyer present is one of the most common mistakes people who have been in a truck accident make. They may seem helpful and nice, but their main goal is to save money for their company. In Pennsylvania, truck accident claims rules can be hard to understand, so it’s easy for victims to say something that could hurt their case without meaning to.
Underestimating the Long-Term Impact of Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries and damage to the spinal cord are just a few of the serious injuries that can happen in truck accidents. People who don’t think about how their injuries will affect them in the future when deciding on a settlement deal often have a hard time paying their bills in the future. In Pennsylvania, when a settlement is being talked about, the costs of ongoing medical care, physical rehab, and possible home changes must be taken into account.
Not Understanding Pennsylvania’s Comparative Fault Rule
The comparative fault rule in Pennsylvania lets accident victims get money even if they were partly to blame for the accident. But if the victim is found to be more than 50% to blame, they might not be able to get any money damages. A lot of people don’t know this rule, so they say or do things that make them more likely to be at fault.
