An 18-wheeler truck involved in an accident with an ordinary motor vehicle will cause immense damage with a higher possibility of fatalities due to its immense weight and size in comparison to the victim’s much smaller, lighter vehicle. The statistical data for 2017 bears this out. The FMCSA recorded 102,000 accidents where car drivers were injured and 4,889 incidents that were fatal in that year. These figures are 42% higher than the 2009 records.
However, statistics cannot provide the details of personal suffering in each of these incidents. Untold pain and suffering, loss of income through missing work or the family breadwinner being out of action or deceased, lost limbs and faculties, and the effects on loved ones are part and parcel of the consequences that innocent victims face after an accident involving an 18-wheeler truck.
It is for these victims that the best truck accident attorneys focus their attention on obtaining just and fair compensation for their clients. They only take on compensation claims cases, which is why road traffic accident lawyers have become proficient at every aspect of gathering evidence and getting equitable reparation for victims.
We look at the seven steps you need to take after being involved in a collision with an 18-wheeler truck.
Get Medical Attention
Usually, after a major accident, bystanders would have reported the incident and arranged for an ambulance to come to the scene of the crash. Law enforcement will also be called out and will conduct their own investigation. This is unlikely to be as comprehensive as the one conducted by a firm of vehicle accident attorneys near me. A firm of truck accident lawyers will have special investigators who are trained and have a ton of experience in gathering information and pursuing a case.
Before doing anything else, you need to have your injuries seen to. If a person who was involved in the crash has sustained any life-threatening wounds or conditions, these must be dealt with as a matter of emergency. This includes a loss of consciousness, extensive bleeding out, problems breathing, loss of limbs, etc. They need to be taken directly to an emergency room, preferably by an ambulance with attendees who can practice life-saving measures en route. If the injuries are less severe, such as broken bones, abrasions, cuts that are not bleeding excessively, or whiplash, the person(s) involved should be treated the same day as soon as practically possible.
Getting prompt treatment will ensure that hospital staff record an accurate history of the severity of your injuries, as this is vital information that road accident lawyers near me will need for the battle in court and to ensure adequate compensation for the victims. This treatment and written record, supported by x-rays, scans, and other tests, will ensure that your legal rights are protected.
The insurance company acting for the carrier and driver will be very interested in your medical records after an accident with an 18-wheeler truck. They will be challenging the case presented by your auto accident lawyer. Insurance companies will always do what they can to diminish a claim, and more so when the compensation being claimed by your truck accident lawyer is large.
Do Not Delay in Getting Medical Attention
If you fail to get medically treated as soon as possible after the accident, it will make the severity of your injuries seem less severe and will compromise the amount of any settlement. Serious injuries are presumed to need urgent or quick medical attention. For more minor injuries, you may be able to take up to 72 hours to go into a treatment facility. If you have been badly injured, you should get treated the same day as the accident took place. You should speak to a truck accident injury lawyer as soon as practically possible and secure copies of your medical records.
Get the Necessary Details from the 18-wheeler Truck Driver
In the event of a road traffic accident, it is incumbent on both parties to exchange information. Your truck accident lawyer is going to need this information to proceed with the investigation necessary to take the case to court. In addition to the driver’s personal information and the 18-wheeler truck registration plates, you need to obtain the name and address of the carrier too. The latter may be implicated in the liability claim if they failed to monitor the driver adequately or did not have the vehicle involved in the collision maintained and in a roadworthy condition. This is also information you need to share with your truck accident lawyer.
Collect Information from the Scene
if your injuries permit or one of the passengers in the collision is unhurt, be sure to take photos on your mobile device of the scene. Show traffic lanes, traffic signals, road signs, skid marks, and anything else pertinent. Get the details of any witnesses to the event. Ask surrounding businesses to retain security camera footage for the investigators.
Do Not Talk to the Driver’s Insurance Company
The driver’s insurance company will attempt to take your statement. You must avoid this at all costs. They will try to trick you into admitting liability. They are not on your side.
Hire an Attorney
Hire a truck accident injury lawyer as soon as you can. The earlier the investigation commences, the more details will be available to determine liability. This will prevent the carrier from overwriting the black box or hiding records such as the driver’s employment file.
Your truck accident lawyer will institute a claim with the driver’s insurance company. Additionally, your lawyer will investigate the case, look at your medical records, and handle the paperwork. If the insurance company accepts liability, based on the evidence gathered, they may agree to a settlement. If not, the case will proceed to a trial. Truck accident attorneys are used to the tricks used by insurers to shift blame or pay a low compensation. You should leave this in their hands.
Contact our legal team at What’s My Case Worth and let them fight for you today.
