Before Talking to an Adjuster, Speak With an Attorney
Almost immediately after a truck or commercial vehicle accident, the trucking company and their insurance carrier are already hard at work building a defense. Accident investigators and insurance adjusters are looking for ways to minimize the amount of money that they may have to pay to victim and their family by shifting the blame away from the trucking company and onto the victim.
Trucking companies and insurance carriers may ask you to provide a statement or to sign releases that would allow them to gain access to your employment or medical records for their review. Since it is difficult for victims and their families to have a level playing field after an accident, it is in your best interest to discuss the situation with an experienced personal injury lawyer at Nagle & Associates, P.A., before giving a statement or discussing the accident with the trucking company and their insurance carrier.
Contact us to schedule an appointment for a free initial consultation by telephone or in-person. Our firm can protect your rights, make the insurance claims process much easier, and help you secure complete monetary compensation for your injuries. Call us at (800) 411-1583.
North Carolina and the One Percent Rule
The state of North Carolina is one of just five states in the U.S. that follows the law of pure contributory negligence in car and truck accidents. Under this strict approach, if the victim contributes even slightly to causing their own accident or injuries, they have no civil claims against the driver who was primary responsible.
This law is also known as the 'one percent rule'. If the trucking company or insurance carrier can show one percent of fault on the part of the victim, the victim will receive nothing for their medical bills, lost wages or pain and suffering. Due to the one percent rule, trucking companies and insurance carriers are often relentless in their search for victim error.
This is why it is important that victims of trucking and commercial vehicle accidents do not contribute to this search by providing recorded statements or signed medical authorization to insurance adjusters. The insurance company is not on your side, and they will use any information you provide to build a case against you and avoid a settlement.
Contact Nagle & Associates Today
Contact the personal injury law firm of Nagle & Associates, P.A., to speak with an experienced truck accident lawyer right now. Our firm can take control of your case, keep all legal leverage on the victim’s side, and control negotiations with the trucking company and their insurance company to help ensure that your rights are not marginalized. Call us toll-free at (800) 411-1583 to discuss your case and learn your true legal rights and options.
