QUESTION: Hi. My aunt was in a wreck about two weeks ago. She’s been in hospital ever since, and she was going down the interstate, and the tire on an 18-wheeler next to her blew. The debris flew out from underneath the 18-wheeler, and it hit her car, and then she ended up going down an embankment. We don’t really know what to do next. We aren’t sure how to file this under insurance or anything. We’re hoping you can help. Thank you.
BILL: Oh my God. I mean, this is a no-brainer. You got an 18-wheeler, and their tire blew. Clearly, it’s the 18-wheeler’s fault or, you know, the maintenance department. There’s not much to prove here. Often, if there’s an accident, you need witnesses to explain what actually happened. In this case, it’s clear.
My first piece of advice is there is no way that you should go at it alone. You should and need to speak to a lawyer handling these cases immediately. 18-wheeler cases are a little bit different than, say, a normal automobile accident between two individuals. You’re dealing with trained professionals who are representing the trucking company, and their job is to get you as little as possible.
You could be dealing with millions of dollars in coverage, and you want your share. Need proof of how seriously a trucking company takes an accident? They will have investigators at the scene within 20 minutes, and that’s just the way it is. So, don’t think about handling it yourself or making a claim with your insurance company. This is a serious situation, and you need to get the best lawyer you possibly can.
And don’t rely on TV commercials. You have seen those 30-second jingles with good-looking supermodels jumping up and down saying so and so, got me millions of dollars. Well, those people are probably not the people injured. In fact, I can almost guarantee it. They’re there to get your attention and are being told what to say.
Trucking cases can be complex, full of details, and require extensive investigation. We will need to collect medical records, maintenance records, insurance availability, manufacturing details, and so much more.
I was recently involved in a case that hinged on my proving that the tires had not been serviced in a long time.
Let me finish up by mentioning one other thing. A good lawyer will anticipate your needs for the future. Any accident like this will have lasting consequences, and you will need to be compensated for them.
CALL BILL
Injured? You can call Bill at 251-255-5000. He will talk to you for free. Plus, watch Bill every Sunday night at 10:30 on NBC 15 LawCall, our legal TV show, here in Mobile. Hosted by Andrea Ramey, it is on right after the news.