Whenever you’re involved in a motor vehicle accident of any kind, it can come as a shock to the system. However, you may be shaken even further after a collision with a tractor-trailer. Dealing with a truck accident takes on additional protocols after the crash to make sure that your situation is properly addressed financially. Here’s what you should do if you’re a truck accident victim looking for compensation for medical bills, lost income, or even pain and suffering.
A Thorough Investigation
Once you have been involved in a crash, it may be time to consider your legal options and the services of tractor-trailer accident lawyers. Truck accidents require thorough investigation, and working with a top legal team will make sure that there is a proper assessment of the accident scene. This includes evaluating the damage to your vehicle and the truck, while also checking a trucker’s logbook and the trucking company’s safety records.
Trucking companies hit the ground running after an accident almost immediately to handle a truck crash case to protect their assets from liability. It’s important to have a team of investigators on your side that will work just as fast. The sooner you contact a truck accident lawyer, the better they can preserve critical evidence for your case. Eyewitness accounts of the scene are also welcome in these types of cases, while some law firms will even bring in the opinions of experts and accident scene reconstructionists to get a deeper insight into a truck crash.
Holding Trucking Companies Responsible
Immediately after a tractor-trailer accident, you’ll need an experienced truck accident lawyer on your side who will protect your rights as an accident victim. Their focus will be on investigating and documenting critical evidence to demonstrate a truck driver’s negligence in this wreck. Your attorneys will obtain the black box and electronic data from that truck while helping to make sure that you’ll be able to cover your medical expenses and any lost wages from being out of work. They’ll be sure to answer your questions and guide you through the legal process.
A personal injury attorney will keep your best interest in mind starting with an initial consultation to get transparency regarding this truck accident. After all, trucking companies must comply with a vast array of federal and state laws addressing licensing and driving qualifications to hours of service and proper loading procedures. By obtaining the black box, a truck accident lawyer can build a better picture of a company’s habits. This could help uncover information that may show a company’s lack of proper safety measures or a failure in duty of care regarding service hours and driving habits on roadways.
Discovering the Cause of the Accident
If you’re the victim of a truck accident, you not only want the maximum compensation you’re entitled to, but you also want the peace of mind in knowing that a trucking company’s practices change for the better. This will prevent anyone else from going through what you’re going through. The truck driver and their company are usually the common defendants in a personal injury lawsuit. However, an experienced attorney may determine that a parts manufacturer is at fault for mechanical failure, or that more compensation can be achieved through the company’s insurance providers.
There are many situations that can be the cause of a truck accident in which the tractor-trailer operator or company is negligent and responsible. Truck driver fatigue and driver distraction are among some of the root causes for a wreck out on the road. In recent years, trucking companies have been held responsible in lawsuits for a lack of proper training practices or evaluation in their hiring process. That’s why it’s important to have an attorney with extensive experience to make sure that you are given the financial and emotional support you need after an accident.