The injuries suffered by victims of truck accidents can be devastating and incredibly confusing. The following guidelines may help you protect your rights and your ability to obtain compensation after a truck accident.
Throughout the years, truck accident victims have turned to Trucking Lawyers to obtain the compensation they deserve. For a free, no-obligation consultation and to determine which legal options may be available to you or a loved one if you have been injured in a truck accident, please contact us today.
If you have been in a truck accident, our personal injury attorneys recommend the following steps.
Call 9-1-1 to Alert the Police
As soon as possible after a collision, pull over off the road in a safe spot. Turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers of the accident.
Report the accident and your location to 9-1-1. In your vehicle or a safe location, you should wait for the police officer and other first responders to arrive at the accident scene.
Inform the responding officer of the accident and all details of the collision. No matter how minor the damage to your vehicle or the severity of your injuries, you must provide all information to the officer.
A law enforcement official will create an accident report and likely investigate what caused the accident. A police report will also identify whose fault it is that the collision occurred.
Gather Evidence at the Accident Scene
As much information as possible should be collected at the accident scene. The information will be helpful in determining which party may be held liable.
Furthermore, you may be able to use the evidence you gather in order to receive maximum compensation for the injuries and financial losses you suffered.
Information from the Truck Driver
Ask the truck driver these questions:
- Name and contact information
- Commercial driver’s license number
- Insurance carrier
- Information about the trucking company employing the driver
- Name of company displayed on the truck’s cab and trailer
- United States Department of Transportation number, if available
Pictures
Take photos of the following items at the accident scene:
- Damage to your vehicle and the truck
- Street signs, traffic signals and other signage
- Skid marks on the road
- Truck’s tire conditions or cargo load
- Your injuries
Photo-document your recovery as you heal your injuries. You can show how serious your injuries were and how they have affected you.
Witnesses’ Information
Talk to witnesses who observed your accident and stopped at the scene to determine what they may have seen, as well as whether they will provide this information to investigators and insurers.
Furthermore, you should ask for their:
- Name
- Phone number
- Email address
- Home address
Witnesses may be able to testify about events that happened before or during the accident.
Seek Medical Treatment
A victim’s adrenaline rush after an accident may mask or delay the symptoms of a serious injury in some cases. It may take several hours or days for injuries such as whiplash to manifest themselves after a traffic collision.
It is therefore very important that you seek medical attention right after the accident so that any injuries are diagnosed, so the cause is documented, and so you can begin to regain your health.
You may also lose out on maximum compensation if you fail to seek medical treatment after an accident. The insurer may interpret your hesitation to treat your injuries as an indication that you were not injured or that your injuries are not as serious as you stated in your claim.
To ensure the success of your treatment, you should always adhere to your doctor’s guidance. This will prove to the insurance company that you are trying to improve your condition and responding to treatment.
Document Everything Related to Your Claim
It is crucial that you document every aspect of the accident and how the injury has affected your life.
Provide your attorney with this information so they can support your claim. Keep a detailed injury journal to keep track of your symptoms and pain after the accident.
Contact an Experienced Lawyer
It may be in your best interest to contact a skilled commercial semi-truck accident attorney to help with your claim if you are injured in an accident involving one.
Penn Kestner & Mcewen have extensive experience in helping truck accident victims get the maximum compensation they deserve. We will provide you with a free, no-obligation consultation to review your claim and determine if you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Additionally, we will investigate your case to determine which parties may be liable for the injuries you sustained in the truck accident.
