Truck Insurance Issues - Phantom Drivers and Underinsured and Uninsured Motorists

If you are involved in an accident with a large commercial truck, the trucker’s insurance coverage may be the last concern on your mind. However, when you are hurt by any vehicle, including a truck, having the right kind of insurance can help you to recover the damages you are entitled to by law.

If you are involved in an accident with a truck driver, you may be eligible to file an insurance claim against the trucking company’s insurance carrier for compensation. However, claims involving truck accidents can be more complicated than a simple automotive insurance claim. Please call Munley, Munley & Cartwright's lawyers for a free assessment of your case. We have offices conveniently located in Stroudsburg, Carbondale, Hamlin, Hazleton, Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre, PA.

One of the more challenging types of truck accident claims is that of the “phantom driver.” A phantom driver is a driver of a vehicle who disappears following the accident, also known as a “hit and run.” While we think of this as primarily limited to cars, there are cases in which a large truck crashes into a car and then leaves the scene of the accident. If this happens, there may be several potential steps to take toward legal compensation.

If you were not able to see the name of the trucking company or any other identifiable details about the truck, you may need to look to your own insurance company. Insurance companies offer an option as part of your car insurance policy known as underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage. If you are hurt in an accident and the other driver was at fault but doesn’t have enough or any insurance, this additional coverage enables you to file a claim with your own insurance company. Basically, your insurance company takes the place of the other driver’s insurance and supplements your damages.

Pennsylvania law doesn’t make underinsured or uninsured coverage mandatory, which means that you must check carefully to know whether you have purchased this optional coverage. Many people elect not to purchase it, but the few dollars saved on an insurance premium are rarely worth it when an uninsured driver plows into your vehicle and leaves you without legal options to pursue compensation.

If you are involved in an accident with a truck that does not leave the accident scene, then you will most likely be dealing with the insurer for the trucking company. Trucking companies, like any big business, have their own insurers and they pay top dollar for their policies because of the potentially high damages involved in a trucking accident. To minimize their own insurance costs, they want to minimize the costs paid out to you – and so do their insurers. Insurance representatives from trucking companies are often quick to arrive at an accident scene – and just as quick to offer an insufficient settlement to a victim too overwhelmed to pay close attention.

If you are hurt in a trucking accident, you need help from a firm used to handling claims involving trucking accidents and trucking company insurers. The Munley, Munley & Cartwright firm has years of experience in dealing with truck accident claims. We know how to clearly present the facts of your case and prepare a case strategy designed to protect your interests – not those of the insurance company or the trucking company.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a truck accident, you deserve experienced legal representation from a firm that understands the challenges you face because of your injuries – a firm that is committed to obtaining the compensation you deserve. When truck drivers engage in behavior that puts others at risk, they must be held accountable – and you shouldn’t have to pay the ultimate price for their negligent and reckless refusal to drive safely.

At Munley, Munley & Cartwright, our goal is to provide exceptional legal services to our clients. We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through teamwork and the use of our considerable resources and experience. For a free consultation regarding your legal concerns, contact us today online or call us toll free at 877-421-9173.