How Do Insurance Companies Handle 18-Wheeler Crash Claims?

Victims and businesses need to understand insurance companies’ laws, regulations, and insurance policies dealing with truck accidents to help reduce their chances of complications when making a claim. Insurance companies usually look at various evidence before settling a compensation.

The main thing they’ll evaluate is the cause of the 18-wheeler accident. Identifying the cause of the crash can play a significant role in determining whether the victim is entitled to compensation.

How Do Insurance Companies Investigate Claims?

Insurance companies typically perform a thorough investigation prior to taking on liability for a claim. This usually involves:

• Using the police accident report to analyze what caused the crash
• Reviewing the driver’s logs and hours of service to determine whether he was operating the 18-wheeler within legal limits
• Reviewing records to determine whether or not the 18-wheeler was in proper condition when it left the trucking company
• Analyzing dashcam and traffic camera video footage to determine whether the drivers involved behaved properly before the accident
• Conduct interviews with witnesses who may have witnessed the accident and individuals who were directly involved in the accident

How Does Liability Affect Claim Determination? 

Liability forms the basis of all claims involving commercial trucks (i.e., who is liable for the accident, whether there is multiple liability, whether there have been violations of policy, or violations of the safety regulations established under the federal statute).

What Compensation a Victim Can Get?

The value of a settlement is calculated based on both economic damages and non-economic damages. Some examples of both types include

Economic Damages:

• Current/future medical expenses
• Loss of wages/earning potential
• Costs related to the repair/replacement of the vehicle
• Rehabilitation/therapy costs

Non-economic Damages:

• Physical/psychological suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of quality of life

Do Insurance Companies Attempt to Reduce Payout Claims? 

Yes, insurance companies are frequently for-profit. Some typical efforts at decreasing payouts are:

• Challenge the severity of the injuries
• Claim that the injured party contributed to the accident
• Require more documentation than necessary
• Make rapid, low offers
• Unreasonably delay the claim process.

How Long is it going to Take to Get Settlement?

The time length of your truck accident claim can vary according to:

• The number of parties involved in the claim
• The severity of your injuries
• Whether or not an expert will be called in to analyze the accident before a settlement can be reached
• There is a dispute between the two insurance companies regarding liability
• If you and the insurance company can’t work out something, you will have to go to court to settle your truck accident claim.

What Documents Will the Insurance Companies Want to See from the Claimant?

The following is a list of the documents that are commonly requested by the insurance companies:

• Medical treatment record/invoice
• Accident scene/crash site photos
• Repair estimate of the vehicle
• Proof of wage/proof of employment
• Copy of the insurance policy
• Police report

Summary

• Claims for 18-wheelers are complicated because there could be several people who may have some responsibility for this incident, and they will involve an enormous amount of dollar value.
• Insurance claims are thoroughly investigated prior to paying out claims.
• The liability determination will affect how your claim settles.
• Claims include the cost of medical care, lost income, and/or emotional distress as part of the amount of your claim.
• Many times, an insurance company will attempt to devalue your claim, so you should be prepared and organized.
• Lastly, in some instances, your claim will go to trial when a just resolution cannot be reached with the insurance company.