Investigating a Truck Accident in Virginia

Truck accidents share many common features with other types of North Carolina vehicle crashes, but they?re also much more complicated in several ways. The causes often differ from auto collisions, and truckers are required to carry insurance policies that could range into the millions in coverage. As such, a thorough, meticulous truck accident investigation is necessary to prove your claim if you suffered injuries in such an incident. Of course, when the stakes are so high, you can also expect the truck insurance company to carefully scrutinize the relevant factors. Insurers are looking for reasons to deny your claim or pay out as little as possible, and a comprehensive investigation could provide the information they need.

Cerid Lugar at Lugar Injury Law understands the critical importance of evidence to both sides of a truck accident claim. We dedicate painstaking effort up-front to ensure we have the details necessary to support your right to compensation, and our attorneys have the investigative skills to counter the assertions of an insurance company. Please contact our firm to set up a no-cost case assessment with a Roanoke truck accidents lawyer today, and read on to learn the basics of these investigations.

Investigating Factors Related to Fault

Truck accidents typically happen because a driver was careless, which is referred to as negligence in practice of law. There are multiple facts you must prove to obtain monetary damages for your losses, and one of the most important is fault. In a truck crash investigation, you?ll focus on gathering sufficient evidence to establish that the truck operator was responsible for causing the collision. Strategies may include:

• Reviewing the information you collected at the scene of the crash, such as pictures of each vehicle, weather, physical conditions, traffic signals, and other factors;
• Talking to witnesses who observed the truck collision and can offer details on who was at fault; and,
• Retaining an accident reconstruction expert who is specially trained to identify contributing factors.

Keep in mind, however, that the insurance company?s investigation could reveal information that adversely affects your interests. Virginia follows the rule of pure contributory negligence, which puts the focus on your own conduct in a truck accident. If you were at fault, even slightly, you are barred from recovering any compensation for your medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering and other losses. Therefore, a secondary goal in conducting an investigation is to defend against claims that you were at fault.

Truck Accident Investigations and Your Injuries

Another key element in a negligence-based case, including a truck crash, is the nature and severity of your injuries. The investigation starts with a review of your medical records, which detail the diagnosis, treatment, pain prescriptions, and doctor?s notes about your physical condition. These documents establish your right to receive compensation for your medical costs, but they also play a role when you seek damages for pain and suffering. As part of the investigative process, your attorney may rely upon medical experts for assistance in translating technical and complicated concepts.

Examining Evidence Related to Other Losses

Truck accident injuries affect your life in many ways, and you may be entitled to recover monetary damages for additional losses if you have the necessary proof. For example, a truck collision investigation may also extend to:

• Obtaining details on your lost wages, if you were unable to work after the crash;
• Consulting with financial experts regarding future earning capacity, when your injuries are so severe that they prevent you from working in your chosen profession;
• Reviewing the costs of the medical care you?ll require in the long term, especially for catastrophic injuries that you?ll suffer for the rest of your life; and,
• Delving into how your injuries affect you personally, such as a diminished quality of life and implications for your relationships with loved ones.

Get Legal Help from a Virginia Truck Accidents Attorney

Now that you understand the how truck accident investigations work, you can see the importance of retaining legal counsel as soon as possible if you were hurt in such an incident. You can be sure that the insurance company is digging deep to find grounds to reject your claim, so having an experienced lawyer on your side is crucial. To learn more about your legal remedies, please contact Lugar Injury Law by calling (540) 384-0348 or use our online contact form. We can schedule a free consultation at our office in Roanoke, VA to review the details of your claim.