What Happens After a Truck Crash?
When a big truck hits a car, people can get very hurt. The truck is so much bigger than a car. After a crash, you might think the truck company will help you. But most of the time, they try to pay you as little money as possible — or nothing at all.
Truck companies have tricks they use to avoid paying. A good Kansas City truck accident lawyer knows these tricks. They can help you fight back. Let’s learn what truck companies do after a crash and how a truck accident attorney can help you.
The Truck Company’s Team Goes to Work Fast
After a crash, the truck company acts very quickly. While you are still in the hospital or at home hurting, they are already working to protect themselves.
They Send Investigators Right Away
The truck company often sends people to the crash site within hours. These people:
- Take pictures of everything
- Talk to witnesses
- Look at the damage to all vehicles
- Collect evidence that helps them
- Sometimes even change things at the crash site
A lawyer truck accident expert knows how important it is to get your own investigator quickly too.
They Talk to You When You’re Hurting
Sometimes someone from the truck company or their insurance will call you right after the crash. They might:
- Ask how you are feeling
- Sound very nice and caring
- Ask you to tell them what happened
- See if you’ll say the crash was partly your fault
- Record what you say to use against you later
An attorney lawyer truck accident professional will tell you not to talk to them without your lawyer.
They Try to Destroy or Hide Evidence
One of the biggest tricks truck companies use is to make evidence disappear. They know this evidence could show they did something wrong.
The “Repair” or Sell the Truck Quickly
The truck itself is important evidence. It can show:
- If the brakes were working right
- If the tires were too worn out
- If required safety equipment was missing
- If the truck was being taken care of properly
A truck accident attorney will send a letter right away telling the company not to fix or sell the truck.
They Change or “Lose” Driver Logs
Truck drivers must keep logs that show:
- How long they drove
- When they took breaks
- How many miles they drove
- Where they stopped
These logs can show if a driver was driving too long without rest. But companies sometimes:
- Change the logs after the crash
- Say they “lost” the logs
- Create new fake logs
- Delete electronic logging data
A Kansas City truck accident lawyer knows how to find the real logs and electronic data.
They Delete GPS and Black Box Data
Most trucks have devices that record:
- How fast the truck was going
- When the driver hit the brakes
- If the driver was speeding
- Where the truck was at all times
This information can be erased if a truck wreck attorney doesn’t act fast to save it.
They Blame the Victim
Another common trick is to say the crash was your fault, not the truck driver’s fault.
They Say You Were Driving Badly
The truck company might claim:
- You cut in front of the truck
- You were speeding
- You didn’t have your lights on
- You were on your phone
- You changed lanes without signaling
An attorney truck accident professional gathers evidence to show what really happened.
They Look Through Your Driving History
Truck companies will look for anything in your past that makes you look bad:
- Old tickets you got
- Past car crashes
- Anything on your social media about driving
- If your car had any problems
A lawyer truck accident expert makes sure the focus stays on what the truck driver did wrong.
They Check Your Phone Records
Truck companies often try to get your phone records to see if you were:
- Talking on the phone during the crash
- Texting while driving
- Using apps while driving
They try to blame you even when their driver was the one not paying attention. A Kansas City truck accident lawyer protects your privacy and fights these claims.
They Try to Pay You Quickly But Too Little
Sometimes the truck company or their insurance will offer you money right after the crash. This might seem nice, but it’s a trick.
The “Quick Check” Trick
The company might offer you a check right away. They may say:
- “This will help with your bills”
- “You can get money now instead of waiting”
- “This is the best offer you’ll get”
But the check is almost always for much less money than you really need. A truck accident attorney can tell you what your case is really worth.
They Ask You to Sign Papers
Along with the check, they’ll ask you to sign papers. These papers often say:
- You can’t ask for more money later
- You agree the crash wasn’t their fault
- You can’t talk about what happened
An attorney lawyer truck accident professional will read all papers before you sign anything.
They Offer Money Before You Know How Badly You’re Hurt
Some injuries get worse over time. What seems like just a sore neck might be a serious problem that needs surgery later. The truck company wants you to take money before you know:
- How long your injuries will last
- If you’ll need more treatment
- If you can go back to work
- If you’ll have pain forever
A truck wreck attorney makes sure you know the full extent of your injuries before settling.
They Use Legal Tricks to Confuse You
Truck companies have teams of lawyers who know all kinds of legal tricks.
They Say Too Much Time Has Passed
Each state has a “time limit” for filing a truck crash case. This is called a “statute of limitations.” If you wait too long, you can lose your right to get any money. Truck companies might:
- Tell you that you have plenty of time
- Drag out talks until it’s too late
- Not tell you about the time limit
A Kansas City truck accident lawyer knows all the time limits and makes sure you don’t miss them.
They Say the Wrong Company Is Being Sued
The trucking industry is complicated. One crash might involve:
- The driver
- The company the driver works for
- The company that owns the truck
- The company that loaded the cargo
- The company that made the truck parts
Truck companies might say, “You’re suing the wrong company!” A lawyer truck accident expert figures out all the right companies to include.
They Move the Case to a Different Court
Truck companies often try to move your case to a court that:
- Is far from your home
- Has judges who favor big companies
- Has different laws that help them
- Makes it harder for you to win
An attorney truck accident professional fights to keep your case in the right court.
They Attack Your Character
When truck companies can’t deny the crash was their fault, they often try to make you look bad.
They Watch Your Social Media
After you file a case, the truck company will look at all your social media. They look for:
- Pictures of you doing activities
- Posts where you say you’re feeling good
- Anything that suggests you’re not really hurt
- Comments about the crash
A truck accident attorney will advise you about what to post (or not post) on social media.
They Have People Spy on You
Sometimes truck companies hire people to watch you. These people might:
- Take pictures of you outside your home
- Follow you to the store
- Record you carrying groceries or playing with your kids
- Try to catch you doing something your injuries shouldn’t allow
A Kansas City truck accident lawyer knows how to fight back against this spying.
They Talk to Your Neighbors and Co-Workers
Truck companies might talk to people who know you, hoping they’ll say:
- You complained about pain before the crash
- You had other accidents you didn’t mention
- You seem fine when the lawyers aren’t around
- You can do things you claim you can’t do
An attorney lawyer truck accident professional prepares you for these tactics.
How a Truck Accident Lawyer Fights These Tricks
Now that you know the tricks, let’s see how a truck wreck attorney fights back.
They Act Fast to Save Evidence
A good lawyer sends special letters right away that tell the truck company to save:
- The truck itself
- Driver logs
- Black box data
- Maintenance records
- Driver qualification files
- Drug and alcohol test results
These letters are called “spoliation letters.” If the company destroys evidence after getting this letter, they can get in big trouble.
They Bring in Expert Help
A Kansas City truck accident lawyer works with experts who understand trucks:
- Accident reconstruction experts who can show how the crash happened
- Truck safety experts who know all the rules
- Medical experts who explain your injuries
- Economic experts who calculate how much money you’ve lost
- Life care planners who show what future care you’ll need
These experts help prove your case.
They Know How to Find Hidden Evidence
An attorney truck accident professional knows where to look for evidence the truck company tries to hide:
- Getting court orders to see company records
- Finding backup copies of electronic data
- Interviewing former employees who will tell the truth
- Getting records from government agencies
- Finding other crashes the same driver or company had
This hidden evidence often shows what really happened.
They Stand Up to Big Companies
Truck companies have money and lawyers, but a lawyer truck accident expert isn’t afraid to fight them:
- They’ve handled many truck cases before
- They know the tactics truck companies use
- They have the resources to take on big companies
- They only get paid if you win, so they work hard
- They’re ready to go to trial if the company won’t be fair
Having a strong lawyer shows the truck company you’re serious.
What You Can Do to Protect Yourself
While your truck accident attorney does their job, there are things you can do to help:
See Your Doctor and Follow Their Advice
Go to all doctor appointments and do what they say. This:
- Helps you get better faster
- Creates medical records that prove you’re hurt
- Shows you’re trying to get better
- Prevents the truck company from claiming you made your injuries worse
A Kansas City truck accident lawyer will use your medical records to show how badly you were hurt.
Don’t Talk About Your Case
Be careful who you talk to about your case:
- Don’t post about it on social media
- Don’t tell co-workers details
- Don’t talk to the truck company or their insurance
- Tell people, “My lawyer advised me not to discuss my case”
An attorney lawyer truck accident professional should do the talking for you.
Keep a Daily Journal
Write down how you feel each day:
- What pain you have
- Activities you can’t do anymore
- Doctor visits and treatments
- How your injuries affect your daily life
- Things you miss out on because of your injuries
This journal helps your truck wreck attorney show how the crash changed your life.
Be Honest About Everything
Always tell your lawyer the whole truth:
- About past injuries or accidents
- About all your symptoms
- About your medical history
- About things you might have done wrong
Your truck accident attorney can only help you if they know everything. Surprises hurt your case.
Conclusion
After a truck crash, you’re not just fighting your injuries. You’re also fighting a truck company that will use many tricks to avoid paying you. Their goal is to pay you nothing or as little as possible.
You need someone on your side who knows these tricks and how to fight them. A Kansas City truck accident lawyer has seen these tactics before and knows how to protect you.
Most lawyer truck accident professionals offer free first meetings to talk about your case. They don’t get paid unless they win money for you. There’s no risk in calling to learn about your rights.
Don’t let truck companies and their insurance get away with these tricks. An attorney truck accident professional will stand up for you and fight for the money you deserve.
Remember: The truck company has a team working against you from day one. Make sure you have a team working for you too.
