What To Do After A Truck Accident
What To Do After A Truck Accident
The moments following a serious truck accident are often frightening, stressful and hectic. It’s normal not to be thinking clearly. However, if possible, there are several things you can do that may make your recovery much easier down the road. It helps to know ahead of time what to do after a truck accident.
To best position yourself to obtain the compensation you need to move on, it’s essential that you follow these steps.
Of course, your safety and well-being are top priorities. Be sure to seek immediate medical attention first if you or your passengers are injured after a truck accident. Also, a truck accident attorney can help you address the points below throughout their investigation.
5 Things to Do After a Truck Accident
While still at the truck accident scene, you should take the following steps:
- Stay calm. Call 911 for medical treatment if you or anyone else involved in the crash is injured.
- Get the name and insurance information of the truck driver and any other drivers involved. Find out what trucking company the driver works for.
- Get the names and contact information of any witnesses. This may be very helpful when an attorney is building your truck accident case.
- If possible, take photographs of the scene, the damage, and your injuries. Check also to see if any witnesses captured video or photos of the incident.
- Cooperate with the police, but do not discuss the crash in detail. Get a copy of the police report.
Your medical needs are your first priority, and it’s possible you may be unable to to take these steps due to your injuries. If that’s the case, you may need to contact a truck accident attorney at Pierce Skrabanek. Our attorneys will obtain this information in the course of our thorough investigation. We have experience taking the work off your plate, so you can focus on your recovery.
Do not admit fault to anyone, and do not give any statements without speaking to an attorney. This especially includes the other party, as well as their insurance company or insurance agents. Also, do not flee the accident scene under any circumstances. You may be committing a crime if you do so.
Reporting Your Accident to the Police
An essential step is to report the accident to the local police. Most states require that you report a serious accident immediately and wait for the police and first responders at the scene of the wreck. Reporting the accident is critical, particularly if someone has been injured. The police will immediately draft a report of the accident. Never leave the scene of an accident without talking to the police first.
When talking to the police or highway patrol, you must be truthful. However, it is also important not to make comments admitting fault, apologizing, or implying that the insurance companies or employer will cover the costs. Oftentimes, it can be difficult to determine fault after an accident. Making comments, which might not even be factually correct, can detrimentally affect your case.
The Days After the Truck Accident
Seek Medical Attention
Even if you believe your injuries are minor, it’s vital that you meet with your doctor as soon as possible. Many truck accident injuries may not be immediately apparent, especially head trauma and internal injuries.
Seeing a doctor will also ensure that your injuries are documented, which may help your attorney build a truck accident case on your behalf. Be sure you keep all medical bills and any other documentation related to your treatment.
Notify Your Insurance Company
You should notify your insurance company immediately if you’ve been in an accident with an 18-wheeler, or any other vehicle, for that matter. Provide the basic facts, but remember not to admit fault or give a statement to any insurance company until you’ve spoken to a lawyer. Once you hire an attorney, your attorney will deal with insurance companies.
Be careful when talking to insurers. If you’ve been injured, they may offer you a settlement to compensate you for your medical expenses. Do not accept it. The verdicts and settlements our truck accident attorneys can obtain are frequently much higher than a settlement offer from the company.
Insurance companies aren’t on your side. The less they pay you, the more money they make. They are multi-billion dollar corporations.
Your attorney won’t let a company take advantage of you. A lawyer’s job is to stand up for you and act in your best interests at all times. That’s why you need to contact Pierce Skrabanek if you’ve been injured in a truck accident in Texas.
Why You Should Take Action Immediately
Seeing a doctor involves more than getting the medical treatment you need. It also means officially documenting the injuries the crash caused. Such information will be vital when an attorney is building your case for compensation.
Failing to see a doctor after a truck accident can seriously affect your ability to successfully pursue a truck accident claim in the future. Here are several reasons to get medical attention after any truck accident you’ve been in:
- Delaying diagnosis or treatment can cause an injury to develop into a far worse medical condition
- Injuries might not respond as well to later treatment if not treated immediately
- The source or cause of your pain come under question — the other party may attempt to point to a pre-existing condition rather than their negligence as the cause
- You could suffer more injuries — for example, a slip and fall injury may result if your balance was compromised
So, not only is your health at stake, but seeking medical attention early will help lay the groundwork for any upcoming legal action.
How Can a Houston Truck Accident Lawyer Help Me?
It is also crucial to contact an attorney immediately after the accident so that they can begin investigating the accident. An attorney can preserve the evidence and ensure that experts are given an opportunity to inspect and examine it before it is destroyed. Such critical evidence concerns the physical state of the truck, the driver’s logs, maintenance logs, and company procedures.
An attorney can also obtain:
- The truck driver’s history
- A list of prior accidents
- Any citations or violations that the truck driver received
- A history of the maintenance performed on the truck
- GPS data
- The company’s accident history
An attorney can also help find out if the driver is unlicensed or has invalid certifications. The attorneys at Pierce Skrabanek have extensive experience providing legal guidance for those who have been injured in a truck accident. They can help advise you on what to do after a truck accident, so you don’t miss any important filing deadlines. For more information regarding truck accidents and advice on what to do after you have been in an accident, please contact us at 832-690-7000. You can also contact us here to fill out a consultation request.
Compensation if You’ve Been Involved In a Truck Accident
If you were seriously injured in a truck accident, we know that hiring an attorney is something you wish you never had to do. Many people who call us are hesitant about getting a lawyer. We understand, but we want to tell you why hiring an attorney may be the best way for you to get past this accident.
Filing a truck accident lawsuit may be the only way to get compensated for the financial havoc your accident has caused. Our attorneys always seek the maximum amount of compensation possible. While it can’t change what has happened to you, it can improve your life going forward.
Our lawyers can seek compensation for:
- Ambulance rides, hospital stays, surgical procedures
- Follow-up doctor visits
- Physical rehabilitation, including any necessary assistive equipment
- Income you lost because you were unable to work, or will be unable to work in the future
- Pain and suffering
A consultation with a truck accident attorney at Pierce Skrabanek is always free and without obligation. We want to tell you what we can do to help you in this tough time. Call us today or contact us online to discuss your options.
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Get in Touch With a Trucking Accident Lawyer
Understanding what to do after a trucking accident is critical for the outcome of your case. You may need the expertise of a lawyer to help you through the process. At Pierce Skrabanek, we have the knowledge and experience necessary to handle your truck accident and answer your questions.
Our reputation for success has garnered several awards, including induction into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and SuperLawyers by Texas Monthly Magazine. Contact us today at 832-690-7000 if you or a loved one need assistance with a truck accident case. We are here to ensure you get the recovery you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes truck accidents?
One of the main causes of trucking accidents is distracted driving. A common example of this is texting while driving. However, any action that takes the driver’s attention off the road may be considered a distraction, including changing the radio, drinking a beverage, or even talking to a passenger.
Other common causes include driver fatigue, improperly loaded cargo, driving under the influence, and improper training. An experienced Houston truck accident lawyer can help determine the exact cause of an accident as well as the corresponding damages amounts.
Are expert witnesses necessary in truck accident cases?
An expert witness is a professional who is specially trained to provide reliable information in court. Expert witnesses may sometimes be necessary in commercial truck accident cases. For instance, they may be called upon to determine how a crash occurred, analyze the extent of an injury, or help with the calculation of monetary damages.
Do most truck accident cases go to trial?
As mentioned, after a truck accident, an insurance company will try to resolve the matter by offering a settlement amount. However, many truck accidents involve injuries that are so severe and permanently debilitating that standard insurance doesn’t cover all the long-term expenses.
In such cases, legal action is necessary to help the victim recover all the additional costs, including pain and suffering, lost wages, and other amounts. The experienced truck accident lawyers at Pierce Skrabanek can provide skillful representation to ensure the victim is fully compensated. Contact us at 832-690-7000 for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation to determine your next steps.
Related Pages
Maritime Jones And Act
Maritime Accidents
Maritime Injuries
Oil Rig Injuries
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