Trucking companies and their insurers act quickly to protect their profits after a commercial vehicle accident. They teach their drivers, crash investigators and claims adjusters strategies to help them limit their liability and payouts for accidents so that accident victims bear the brunt of medical bills, lost wages and other expenses.

If you have been involved in a catastrophic trucking accident, you deserve to secure the maximum compensation for your injuries. While you cannot predict when or where a trucking crash occurs, you can protect your financial interests in the event of a life-changing collision. Understanding the tricks insurers use can help you make smart decisions after your accident.

Beware these tactics

  1. Insurers may blame you for causing the accident.

Motor vehicle accidents can be life-shattering, emotional events. Immediately after an accident occurs, you may believe that your actions led to the accident when this is not the case. Insurers try to capitalize on this misunderstanding and are quick to assign blame to avoid paying a fair settlement. You should not speak to the at-fault driver’s insurance company without skilled representation. A personal injury attorney knows how to challenge false accusations and build a strong claim.

  1. Insurers and trucking companies may misclassify the at-fault driver.

Trucking companies may misclassify their drivers after an accident to reduce their liability. Claiming that the at-fault driver is an independent contractor and not an employee allows them to avoid responsibility for settling with the accident victim. Experienced lawyers understand New York laws regarding employee classifications and can investigate this assertion.

  1. Insurers may question the severity of your injuries.

After a catastrophic motor vehicle accident, victims may be burdened with high medical bills and require long-term rehabilitative care. Injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) or back injuries, may not seem life-changing immediately after the accident; however, they can affect your ability to keep working or functioning independently. Insurers go to extreme lengths to justify low ball settlement offers for severe injuries like these. Meeting with a doctor after your accident will help you document your injuries and support your claim.

After an accident, trucking companies and their insurers are motivated to look out for their interests, not yours. As an educated driver, you can improve the likelihood you’ll avoid falling for the tricks and receive the compensation you rightfully deserve.