What car and truck accident claims cover
This area covers injuries and losses from a collision, whether you were driving, riding as a passenger, on a motorcycle or bicycle, or walking as a pedestrian. It includes everyday rear-end and intersection crashes, highway pileups, collisions with commercial trucks or delivery vehicles, rideshare accidents, and situations involving a driver who had no insurance or not enough of it. People usually look into this once it's clear an injury needs ongoing treatment, once an insurance adjuster starts calling, or once a claim gets denied, delayed or offered for far less than the bills already add up to.
Fault after a crash isn't always obvious, especially in multi-vehicle collisions or when the other driver's insurer disputes what happened. An attorney who handles crash claims can help sort out who's responsible and how much coverage is actually available, which sometimes includes more than one policy.
What an attorney typically does for you
An attorney handling a car or truck accident claim generally:
- Investigates the crash, including the police report, photos and any available video
- Identifies every insurance policy that may apply, including your own uninsured motorist coverage
- Gathers medical records and bills, and documents lost income and other losses
- Manages all communication with insurance adjusters, including declining recorded statements that could hurt your claim
- Calculates a fair value for the claim based on your specific injuries and losses
- Negotiates with the insurer, or files suit and prepares for trial when a fair settlement isn't offered
For truck accidents in particular, an attorney may also look into the trucking company's safety record, driver logs and maintenance history, since more parties can be involved than in a typical two-car crash.
How costs usually work
Most attorneys who handle car and truck accident claims work on a contingency fee: they take an agreed percentage of what's recovered, and if there's no recovery, there's typically no attorney's fee. That's what allows someone with a repair bill and mounting medical expenses to hire an attorney without paying anything out of pocket up front. Straightforward property-damage-only claims are sometimes handled directly with the insurer without an attorney at all, and some attorneys will say so if that's the better path for your situation.
Costs separate from the fee, like obtaining records or accident reconstruction if it's needed, are handled differently from firm to firm. Each attorney sets their own terms and explains them before you agree, so it's worth asking exactly how fees and costs work before you sign anything.
Timing matters
The other driver's insurer often calls within days, hoping to get a recorded statement or a quick settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries. Evidence disappears fast too: skid marks fade, vehicles get repaired or sold, and video from nearby businesses is frequently overwritten within a week or two. Every state also sets its own deadline for filing a claim, and claims involving a government-owned vehicle can require formal notice much sooner than that. None of this means you need to have everything figured out immediately, but waiting does have a cost.
Once you submit the form on this site, your information goes to up to four independent, participating attorneys who handle car and truck accident claims in your state. There's no charge to submit it and no obligation to hire anyone. If your situation turns out to be simple enough to handle on your own, an attorney you speak with can often tell you that too.
