Your Legal Rights
You have the right to talk to a lawyer before talking to an insurance adjuster.
You need to be careful, even when it seems very clear that the truck driver caused the wreck. Trucking companies respond immediately and aggressively to crashes. We strongly suggest you get your own attorney to protect you and your family.
You have the right to chose where, and how, your vehicle is repaired.
The odds are that your vehicle is a total loss. But often people will find that the insurance company recommends repair, and suggests a “preferred” auto repair shop. You are under no obligation to use the insurance company mechanics.
You have the right to have an attorney review any offers of settlement.
Even if the insurance adjuster makes an offer to settle your claim, you can talk to a lawyer about it first. Sometimes, people sign something and waive their rights to fair compensation without realizing it.
Never consider an offer of settlement until you have fully recovered from your injuries. If your injuries are permanent, then talk with your doctors about long term care needs.
Experience matters in a truck crash case. You need to talk to a lawyer who has experience with both federal laws and state laws, in addition to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). These regulations include:
- Licensing requirements for truck drivers;
- Required documentation;
- Limits on consecutive work hours by hours;
- Training requirements;
- Weight, size and route limitations; and
- Trucking insurance minimums.
Kevin Coluccio has been handling truck crashes for nearly 35 years. He is a member of numerous legal organizations focused specifically on trucking claims, such as the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATTA)—and the only lawyer based in Washington State to have achieved Board Certification in Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Contact Kevin Coluccio about a truck crash, or see The Trucking Watchdog for more information and details about his experience in trucking law and safety.
Truck Crash Law
We help people who were hurt or killed by commercial motor vehicles. (To keep it simple, we use truck).
There are different rules and laws that apply to these vehicles.
What to do after a Truck Crash
Get the medical care you need.
The most important thing you can do is get the recommended medical treatment, and take care of yourself.
Don’t push yourself too hard. Sometimes, people who return to work or stop medical treatment before they are healed have terrible relapses.
If someone you love was killed in a crash, read about wrongful death claims.
Open an insurance claim.
Even if the crash was not your fault, you need to contact your own car insurance company and open a claim.
Then, your insurance company will assign an adjuster to your claim.
Because of the complex legal issues in trucking cases, we recommend that you do not give a recorded statement without speaking to a truck crash lawyer.
If you are concerned about paying the medical bills, then speak to a representative from your insurance provider about your policy benefits.
For more detailed information, review this guide to understanding your car insurance.
Educate yourself on truck crash claims.
Filing an insurance claim for injuries and damages is a complicated process. It helps to understand the trucking industry and the players involved.
- Insurance Companies: Insurance carriers for truck drivers and trucking companies have a lot of money at stake. They defend these cases very aggressively.
- Investigators: Trucking companies have crash response teams ready to investigate incidents as soon as they happen. They often send a lead investigator, a company safety person, and a risk management team to the scene of the collision.
- Lawyers: The trucking company can assign a lawyer immediately. The legal team can start work before you’re even out of the hospital.
Our Process for Truck Crash Cases
We don’t rely on others: we do our own investigation into the crash.
We find witnesses, get photos, and pull information from vehicle computers.
Our first goal is to protect your legal rights. That means we want to stop anyone from destroying or altering evidence— including the truck itself.
We put together the official crash reports and statements, and the medical bills and records.
Then we can get a full picture of the crash and all the factors.
Professional truck drivers and trucking companies have insurance – just like you have insurance on your own car.
There are usually a few different insurance companies involved. Each one has their own insurance adjusters and lawyers.
Remember: these folks don’t work for you. Their job is to protect the insurance company’s money.
When we get involved, they have to deal with us – and leave you alone.
If they make an offer to settle your case, we will contact you to discuss it.
In some cases, we have to file a lawsuit in court before the insurance companies will actually negotiate.
You are always in charge of whether or not you want to accept a settlement. We are here to advise you.
After the complaint is filed with the court, it must be served, or officially delivered, to everyone involved.
The court sets a trial date and deadlines for exchanging information, and formal negotiations. A trial is supposed to be the final option, used only when other methods of resolution have failed.
After a settlement or trial verdict, we prepare a financial statement for you. We negotiate on outstanding medical bills or liens, and make sure everything is covered.
We will present you the facts and your options simply and honestly. You have the final say in how your case is resolved.
Services We Offer
Truck Crash Frequently Asked Questions
Talk to a Truck Crash Lawyer
Contact Coluccio Law for a free consultation on your truck crash claim.
A Family’s Christmas Truck Crash Nightmare
Case: Wright v. Trucking Company
Result: $3,150,000 settlement after 10 days in trial
The Wrights were on their way to a Christmas party when the family vehicle was struck head-on by a semi-truck and trailer.
Two of the family members suffered serious injuries. They were airlifted from the crash scene to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
In the initial crash reports, it looked like the trucker had swerved in to the Wrights to avoid hitting another car.
But a thorough investigation and expert analysis found that the trucker was going too fast for conditions—and that he may have been distracted by his cell phone.
The trucker had also violated the defensive driving standard, which means that a trucker should never turn into the oncoming lane of travel.
The family’s lawyer, Kevin Coluccio, used his experience and knowledge of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and motor carrier standards of care to resolve this case. After two weeks in trial, Coluccio resolved the case for more than three million dollars.