If you’ve been in an accident with a big truck around Salt Lake City, you need to know something important: trucking companies have lots of tricks they use to avoid paying you what you deserve. Let’s talk about these tricks and how to protect yourself.
Trick #1: The Quick Settlement Offer
What They Do
- Call you right away after the crash
- Offer what sounds like a lot of money
- Pressure you to decide quickly
- Act super friendly and helpful
- Say this is their “best offer”
Real-Life Story
Jane from Sandy got offered $5,000 the day after her accident. It sounded good until her doctor said she needed surgery that would cost $50,000. By then, she’d already signed their papers and couldn’t get more money.
How to Protect Yourself
- Don’t sign anything
- Don’t take their first offer
- Talk to a lawyer first
- Wait until you know all your injuries
- Get medical treatment first
Trick #2: Destroying Evidence
Common Tactics
- “Lose” driver logs
- Erase black box data
- “Clean up” the truck quickly
- “Misplace” maintenance records
- Delete electronic records
What This Looks Like
A truck hits you on I-15, and by the time you call a lawyer three days later, the truck’s already been fixed, the driver’s logs are “missing,” and the black box data is “accidentally” erased.
How We Fight Back
- Send legal letters immediately
- Demand they save everything
- Get court orders if needed
- Work with experts
- Track down copies of records
Trick #3: Blaming You
How They Do It
- Say you were driving too fast
- Claim you changed lanes suddenly
- Suggest you were distracted
- Say you didn’t signal
- Blame the weather
Example
Bob was hit when a truck changed lanes on Bangerter Highway. The company claimed Bob was in the truck’s blind spot and should have known better. They tried to make it his fault even though their driver didn’t look before changing lanes.
Fighting Back
We:
- Get witness statements
- Find traffic cameras
- Use black box data
- Check phone records
- Prove what really happened
Trick #4: Using Multiple Companies
The Shell Game
- Different company owns the truck
- Different company employs the driver
- Different company has the insurance
- Different company loads the cargo
- Everyone points fingers at each other
Why They Do This
- Makes cases more complicated
- Confuses people about who’s responsible
- Tries to limit how much they pay
- Makes it harder to get records
- Delays your payment
Trick #5: The Delay Game
Their Tactics
- Take forever to answer questions
- Keep asking for more papers
- Say they’re “investigating”
- Change claim adjusters
- Make excuses
Why They Do It
They hope you’ll:
- Get frustrated
- Give up
- Take less money
- Go away
- Run out of time
Trick #6: Watching Your Social Media
What They Look For
- Facebook posts
- Instagram pictures
- Twitter comments
- TikTok videos
- Any online activity
Real Example
Sarah posted a picture of herself smiling at her kid’s birthday party after her accident. The insurance company used this to claim she wasn’t really hurt, even though she was in pain and just trying to be brave for her child.
Trick #7: Using Your Words Against You
What They Do
- Record your phone calls
- Write down everything you say
- Take statements out of context
- Twist your words
- Make you look bad
How to Protect Yourself
- Don’t give statements
- Don’t talk about fault
- Don’t apologize
- Don’t guess about what happened
- Let us talk for you
How We Stop These Tricks
Our Methods
- Know their games
- Act fast to save evidence
- Handle all communication
- Fight their delays
- Prove your case
What You Should Do
- Save all papers
- Take pictures
- Get medical care
- Don’t talk to them
- Call us right away
Getting Help Is Easy
When You Call 801-448-6227
We’ll:
- Explain their tricks
- Protect your rights
- Handle the paperwork
- Fight for fair payment
- Deal with insurance
Free Help Available
Don’t face these tricks alone. We know:
- What to look for
- How to stop them
- What evidence to save
- How to prove your case
- How to get you fair payment
Local Help Near You
We help people all around:
- Salt Lake City
- West Valley
- Murray
- Sandy
- Taylorsville
- And everywhere nearby
Call us at 801-448-6227 before the trucking company can use these tricks against you.
Disclaimer: Every case is different. Call us to talk about your specific situation and how we can help protect you.
