What to Do If You're Involved in a Trucking Accident
- Obtain legal advice immediately! Evidence is being destroyed, altered or lost every day that you delay. This evidence may be the difference in making a successful recovery and holding the trucking company to full responsibility.
- Get proper medical treatment from a qualified physician or go to the emergency room as soon as possible.
- Keep all medical appointments unless there is a valid reason you have documented for not attending the appointment. Insurance companies sometimes try to reduce compensation and claims because of failures to attend appointments, called "failing to mitigate damages."
- Get photographs of your vehicle showing any damage before it is repaired, given to an insurance company or turned over to a scrap/junk yard. It is important to document the damage that was done to your vehicle. Once your vehicle is destroyed or repaired, that portion of your evidence no longer exists.
- Keep track of any lost time from work, including specific dates and time.
- Keep track of additional expenses you incur as a result of your injuries such as payments to others for assistance during your recovery. It is best to pay with a check and get a receipt so that there is proof of payment. Insurance companies often attempt to reduce reimbursement for these types of things if there is no proof of payment.
- Get photographs of the scene of the wreck showing skid marks, traffic control devices and the lay of the road. If you hire an attorney, be sure your attorney gets this information for you. This type of evidence disappears quickly and is another reason to obtain representation immediately. If you obtain photographs, it is important to obtain still and video pictures. This includes both traffic signals, the lay of the road and any debris from the wreck. If you obtain video tape of a traffic signal, be sure and get two or three complete cycles of the signal. Additionally, contact local TV stations and newspapers to see if they have any footage of the wreck scene/area. TV stations often reuse film after only 7 to 14 days. Again, obtaining assistance as soon as possible is often beneficial in these cases.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the insurance company if possible.
- Do not sign any documents, releases or checks from the insurance company without consulting an attorney.
Important Note: The insurance companies that represent semi-truck companies will at times have one of their representatives on the scene of an accident even before the local authorities get there. Take caution in this fact and be careful about what you say to anyone unknown who may approach you at the scene of the accident or sometime thereafter such as in the hospital or even at your residence after being discharged from the hospital.
For more information about how the attorneys of Miller Weisbrod can help you seek real results in your truck accident injury case, please contact us today.
The information contained in this web site is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. This site is intended to provide additional resources to trucking accident victims and their families.
