Truck accidents aren’t just bigger versions of car crashes. They’re a different beast entirely. We’re talking about vehicles that often weigh more than 10,000 pounds. When something that massive hits a smaller car, the results can be devastating. 

Unfortunately, the presence of highways and trucking routes that run through neighborhoods and busy streets in Nashua means that accidents happen here more often than they would in a city that doesn’t have these. It also means more people have to deal with insurance challenges in trucking accident claims.

Even though large trucks make up only about 5% of all vehicles on the road, they’re involved in nearly 5,000 traffic-related deaths in 2022. That tells you something: when a truck crashes, there’s a much higher chance someone gets seriously injured or even killed.

Tactics The Insurance Company Will Use to Pay You Less

When an accident happens, insurance companies, who, by expectations, are supposed to be there for you to help you recuperate, will instead do everything they can to pay out as little as possible. Here’s how: 

Fast (but not enough) cash 

Right after a crash, you might get a quick phone call from the insurance company offering money. It can be tempting, especially if you’re overwhelmed with medical bills or missing work.

But here’s the problem: these early offers are usually way too low. They don’t cover long-term medical treatment, lost wages, or the pain and stress you’re dealing with. Insurance adjusters know you might be desperate, and they’re counting on that to get you to settle fast and cheap.

Don’t accept any offer without understanding the full cost of your injuries. Once you accept, you usually can’t go back for more. Talk to a lawyer before you sign anything. 

Making you play the waiting game 

Sometimes, insurance companies don’t even bother offering anything right away. Instead, they stall. They might:

• Take weeks or months to “review” your claim
• Say they’re waiting on more paperwork
• Deny the claim altogether without a clear explanation

This tactic is designed to wear you down. The longer they delay, the more pressure you’re under to accept less than you deserve or to give up entirely.

You should keep records of every conversation. Follow up in writing. And if things drag on, get legal help. A lawyer can put pressure on them to move faster or take legal action if needed. 

Offering less than you’re owed

Even if they admit the truck driver was at fault, the insurance company still might offer a settlement that barely scratches the surface of what you’ve lost. They’re hoping you’ll take the offer just to get it over with.

But a serious truck accident can affect your life for years. All of your ongoing rehab, surgeries, lost income, and emotional trauma deserve to be accounted for. 

Listen, if the numbers don’t cover your actual costs (including future ones), that offer isn’t fair. You have the right to negotiate, and legal help can come in really handy during this negotiation. 

Twisting your words 

One of the sneakiest moves they pull is asking for a recorded statement in a bit to “just hear your side of the story.” That’s blatant deception. They’re actually looking for anything they can use against you.

Let’s say they ask how you’re feeling, and you casually say that you feel okay or you’re doing okay. Later, they might use that to argue you’re not really hurt, even if you’re still in pain or taking medication. Or they’ll twist something you said to make it sound like you were partly at fault.

You should know that you’re not legally required to give a recorded statement to the other party’s insurance company. Always talk to a lawyer first.

Last Updated on July 1, 2025