What should I do if I am involved in a truck accident?
As in any vehicle crash, the most important step after a truck accident is to seek medical attention. Even severe injuries often seem minor, or do not manifest themselves for hours, or days, after the accident. Only a trained medical professional can properly, and promptly, assess physical injuries, making sure that serious injuries do not become dire ones.
The police should also be contacted immediately. Not only will this provide an official record of the accident, but the police will be able to conduct an immediate investigation of the scene. They will take statements from witnesses, analyze and document traffic and road conditions, assess the traveling speed of the vehicles, and, depending on the circumstances of the accident, test the other driver for alcohol or drug use. All of this may be invaluable evidence in a subsequent legal case.
While waiting for the police to arrive, it’s a good idea – assuming that you’re physically able to and no other injured passengers or drivers need your assistance – to obtain the following information:
- the names, addresses, and driver’s license numbers of all other drivers involved in the accident;
- the names, addresses, and phone numbers of any witnesses;
- the name of the truck driver’s employer, and any contact information for it;
- insurance information (insurer names, policy numbers, vehicle registration numbers) for the other vehicles involved in the incident.
If possible, also try to note the weather and traffic conditions, and whether there might have been anything wrong with the truck involved in the incident (for example, mechanical trouble mentioned by the driver after the accident). If you have a camera (even if it’s just a low-resolution cell phone camera), snap photos of the scene. These, too, may come in handy later.
When should I notify my insurance company about the accident?
Under no circumstances should you ever speak to another driver’s insurance company without first consulting an attorney. Remember, it is in the other side’s interest, too, to resolve cases quickly and cheaply, and insurance companies have a lot more experience with these cases than the average driver. Their representatives and adjusters will know exactly what to ask you in order to stack the deck in their favor – and against you. Be polite but firm: You are unable to discuss the matter at this time. Then consult with your own counsel.
What if the other driver’s insurance company wants to speak with me?
Under no circumstances should you ever speak to another driver’s insurance company without first consulting an attorney. Remember, it is in the other side’s interest, too, to resolve cases quickly and cheaply, and insurance companies have a lot more experience with these cases than the average driver. Their representatives and adjusters will know exactly what to ask you in order to stack the deck in their favor – and against you. Be polite but firm: You are unable to discuss the matter at this time. Then consult with your own counsel.
What damages may I recover in a truck accident case?
Injured drivers and passengers may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damages resulting from the incident, and pain and suffering. Victims who are permanently disabled may be able to recover for lost future earnings as well as their long-term medical care.
What makes a truck accident a more complex case than a typical car crash?
For one thing, the stakes are often far higher. Truck accidents are frequently devastating, both to people and property. Injuries are all too often catastrophic, both physically and financially. Victims may be disabled for long periods of time – or permanently – making their medical expenses particularly severe, and their lost future income a significant worry. Moreover, because truck drivers are typically operating in an employment-related capacity when the accident occurs, liability falls to the employer – often a large company backed by a top-line insurer that knows how to fight these cases, and make recovery difficult, even when it is most deserved – and needed.
Why is it important to work with a lawyer experienced in truck accident cases?
Truck accident cases typically pit injured drivers and passengers against large companies and their insurers. These are parties who have ample resources to wage a full-scale legal defense. Fortunately, lawyers who are experienced in truck accident cases can counter deep pockets with deep knowledge. They know the tactics, ploys, and delays defendants can muster – and how to overcome them. At Mary Alexander & Associates, our lawyers have been taking on large, well-financed opponents for more than a quarter of a century. And time and again, we’ve beaten them at their own game using our expertise and drive to get our clients the compensation, and the answers, they are entitled to.
How do I pay for your services?
It’s simple: Unless we recover a financial award or settlement, you don’t pay us anything. That’s because we handle truck accident cases on a contingent-fee basis. In short, the risk is all ours: You pay us only if we’re successful. Expenses work the same way. We pay all the costs of the litigation and are reimbursed only if we obtain a settlement or jury award. Think of it this way: It may be your lawsuit, but it’s always our risk. That’s why you can be assured that if we take your case, it’s because we fully intend to win it.
