Hit by an 18-Wheeler on I-65 Near Prattville and Facing a Lumbar Fusion? Why Talking to the Trucking Adjuster First Is Usually a Mistake

By Benjamin Schoettker | J.D. | Barfoot & Schoettker, LLC | 25+ years | Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Slip and Fall, Premises Liability, Car Accidents, 18-Wheeler Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents

Published: 2026-08-07 | Last updated: 2026-08-07

TL;DR: If an 18-wheeler ran you off I-65 near Prattville and you ended up with a lumbar fusion, the trucking company's adjuster is calling for a reason. Recorded statements and quick offers rarely reflect the true value of a spinal surgery case, and in Alabama, one wrong sentence on tape can sink the entire claim.

An 18-wheeler running a driver off I-65 near Prattville is not an ordinary wreck, and a lumbar fusion is not an ordinary injury. When the crash involves a commercial truck, the carrier's adjuster is often calling within days — sometimes before you are even home from the hospital. They are friendly, they sound reasonable, and they usually want two (2) things quickly: a recorded statement and a signed release in exchange for a fast check. There is a reason they move at that speed, and it is not for your benefit.

Trucking insurers know that a fusion case is a serious case. Ultimately, that surgery points to future medical care, physical therapy, possible hardware revision down the road, lost earning capacity, and a permanent impairment rating that has to be calculated by a doctor — not guessed at by an adjuster over the phone. While it may feel like you are just answering simple questions on a recorded call, those answers get used later to argue you were partly at fault, that your pain started before the crash, or that your injuries are not as limiting as your medical records show. In Alabama that matters more than in most states. Alabama still follows contributory negligence, which can bar recovery entirely if the injured driver is found even slightly at fault. A recorded statement taken while you are on pain medication is exactly where that kind of problem gets created.

The commercial policy behind an 18-wheeler is often large — sometimes a million dollars or more in primary coverage, with additional layers above it. That is precisely why the carrier wants the file closed cheap and closed fast. It is important to understand that once you sign a release, it is done. You do not get to reopen it when the second surgery is recommended or when your employer tells you that you cannot come back to your old job. Before talking to any adjuster, get the police report, preserve the truck's electronic data and driver logs through a spoliation letter, and have a lawyer look at the numbers with you.

“In a fusion case, the adjuster's first offer is almost never the case's real value — it is the number they hope you take before anyone runs the future medical and lost earning capacity numbers. Once you sign, that door closes.” — Benjamin Schoettker, Barfoot & Schoettker, LLC

Frequently Asked Questions

An 18-wheeler ran me off I-65 near Prattville and I ended up with a lumbar fusion. The trucking company's adjuster keeps calling me — should I just talk to them and get this over with?

If an 18-wheeler ran you off I-65 near Prattville and you ended up with a lumbar fusion, the trucking company's adjuster is calling for a reason. Recorded statements and quick offers rarely reflect the true value of a spinal surgery case, and in Alabama, one wrong sentence on tape can sink the entire claim.

Do I have to give the trucking company's adjuster a recorded statement?

No. You are under no obligation to give the at-fault trucking carrier a recorded statement. Your own insurer may require cooperation under your policy, but the other side's adjuster is a different situation and you can politely decline.

How long do I have to file a trucking injury claim in Alabama?

Alabama generally allows two (2) years from the date of the wreck to file a personal injury lawsuit. That deadline can be shorter in some situations, so it is important to talk with a lawyer well before the two-year mark.

Hurt by an 18-wheeler on I-65 or anywhere in Alabama?

If you or a family member was seriously injured in a crash with a commercial truck and the carrier's adjuster is already calling, Barfoot & Schoettker, LLC is available at (334) 834-3444 for a free consultation before you give a statement or sign anything.

Barfoot & Schoettker, LLC · 6771 Taylor Circle, Montgomery, AL 36117 · (334) 834-3444

Contact us for a free consultation