In addition to insuring thousands of private vehicle owners across the United States, Erie Insurance also provides commercial coverage for many trucking companies and their drivers. Like any other provider, Erie can be difficult to work with in the wake of a traumatic accident, especially if you try to negotiate a settlement without support from an experienced personal injury lawyer.
When dealing with Erie Insurance after a truck accident in Virginia Beach, you need assistance from an experienced lawyer. Whether you only need to recover funds for personal property damage or have sustained life-altering physical trauma, Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers is here to fight for the compensation you deserve from the negligent parties.
Once someone makes a “third-party claim” with Erie Insurance alleging that a truck driver covered by Erie was directly responsible for causing harm through a traffic accident, Erie will assign a claims adjuster to review the claim. As part of a thorough investigation into the incident, the claims adjuster will generally obtain the following:
The adjuster will then contact the claimant directly, at which point they may request a statement, ask questions about what happened, or make an initial settlement offer. Regardless of how this conversation goes, the claimant must avoid providing anything other than strictly necessary and factual information. They should refrain from expressly or even implicitly accepting any settlement offer until they have reviewed it with legal counsel. Normally, it is best to not give any recorded statement to the insurance company without consulting a lawyer.
Initial settlement offers are typically lowball offers that do not cover all of a claimant’s losses. Company representatives will often try to pressure claimants without legal counsel into accepting this offer. The claimant should not sign any paperwork or promise anything over the phone. Instead, they should contact a skilled truck accident attorney to help secure a better offer through ensuing rounds of negotiation with Erie Insurance.
Insurance settlements from Erie Insurance following Virginia Beach truck accidents generally center around economic losses like medical expenses and car repair or replacement costs. However, various other out-of-pocket losses could be factored into a comprehensive settlement, such as rental car expenses, lost work income, and lost future earning capacity.
Depending on the circumstances, non-economic forms of harm like physical pain and lost quality of life may also be part of a fair settlement. A truck accident attorney at our Virginia Beach office can discuss what damages you may be able to demand restitution for during a private initial meeting.
Negotiating with any insurance provider after a serious traffic accident is rarely a simple or stress-free process, and Erie Insurance is no exception. If you find yourself dealing with Erie Insurance after a truck accident in Virginia Beach, having capable legal counsel on your side can make a tremendous difference in your ability to obtain a fair final case result.
A dedicated truck accident lawyer at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers can review your situation and offer guidance during a confidential consultation. Call today to schedule yours.
Call (757) 333-3333 to request a free consultation