Insurance is mandatory for all drivers, and people generally trust that liability coverage can help them after a crash as a result. One of the first steps people take after a collision is to determine who is at fault, followed by reporting the incident to local authorities. Those steps help ensure that someone can potentially file an insurance claim for the losses generated by the wreck. People often recognize that they may need to negotiate a claim to obtain the maximum amount of compensation given the injuries and other losses generated by a collision.
Sometimes, people try to handle this complex process on their own. Doing so can be a mistake, especially when a crash inspires major consequences. Semi-truck collisions are often among the worst crashes possible. They can kill people or put them in the hospital. They also have an association with very complex insurance claims.
The coverage available is higher
Insurance mandates exist on a state-by-state basis. Passenger vehicles typically only need to comply with Mississippi state requirements. The liability coverage that state law requires is far lower than the average cost of a major collision. Thankfully, federal statutes are what establish semi-truck insurance requirements. Most trucks have to carry at least $750,000 of coverage. The requirements are higher for vehicles hauling dangerous materials. In theory, those higher levels of coverage allow people to more fully recover the losses caused by an 18-wheeler crash.
The negotiations may be more intense
Insurance companies don’t just provide checks for the maximum amount of compensation available through a policy after someone files a claim. Instead, they often engage in intense negotiations to minimize insurance company liability. That process may include a number of conversations in which insurance adjusters try to get people to admit a degree of personal responsibility for a crash to reduce the compensation they receive. Other tactics might include stonewalling individuals by refusing to communicate with them directly in a timely manner or offering settlements that are so low they do not adequately address the expenses generated by a semi-truck collision.
Someone who is coping with the stress of serious injuries and a disabled vehicle is not in the optimal position to handle intense negotiations with an insurance company alone. People may require assistance when trying to obtain an appropriate amount of compensation from an insurance company after a crash with a semi-truck. Securing legal representation can allow someone to focus on their medical recovery without compromising their right to financial compensation after a major wreck.