Three Things You Need to Know About Filing a Personal-Injury Lawsuit for a Truck Accident
Accidents happen all of the time. Unfortunately, many people have experienced a great deal of pain or a tragic loss because of an auto accident. If you have been a victim in an truck accident or auto accident, you might consider hiring an attorney to help you get restitution for your pain and suffering. Here are some things that you need to know about filing a personal injury suit for a truck accident.
1. There Can Be Two Cases Going on at Once, Civil and Criminal
If there were criminal actions associated with the accident, the state will press charges. However, just because the state has pressed charges against the person who caused the accident doesn't mean that you can't file a civil suit. If the person is found guilty in the criminal case, this does not mean that they will have to pay you for your pain and suffering. That will only happen if you file your own lawsuit in civil court.
For this reason, you should take care of filing your own personal-injury lawsuit regardless of if there is a criminal charge filed against the person. This will ensure that you will get the restitution that you deserve from the accident.
2. Talk to an Attorney Early
It is vital that you recognize that you only have a certain amount of time to file a case against the person, so you need to talk to an attorney early. In some cases, the insurance companies will keep you doing paperwork for months so that the statute of limitations on your case passes and you lose your chance to file the lawsuit. By all means, you should be working with the insurance company and the other party to resolve all of the problems without legal action. But if things get dragged out, don't risk it. Talk to the attorney and file the lawsuit right away, before it is too late.
3. Keep All Documentation of the Accident
Lastly, as much proof as you have of the accident, the better. When you file the lawsuit, you will need to prove that the other person was negligent in the case and that they caused you injury. This can be done with police reports, medical reports, medical bills, and letters from employers about lost wages and time off work and so forth. Anything that you can use to prove pain and suffering will be incredibly helpful.
By doing these things, you can protect yourself. For more about this topic, visit the sites of various legal professionals.
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