Truck accidents may have unique legal issues. If the at-fault driver is operating a truck that belongs to a trucking company, this can change the way a case is handled. For example, there are regulations regarding licensing and how many hours a truck driver can work . The outcome of a case can be changed if the at-fault truck driver has violated any of these regulations. If you’re injured after being hit by a truck, you may be considering calling a local truck accident attorney that handles bodily injury claims due to truck accidents. Below are some questions you may have before contacting a personal injury lawyer.
What Do I Do After A Truck Accident?
The time directly after a truck accident can be overwhelming and confusing. Here are some steps you may want to consider if you find yourself involved in a crash:- Obtain Documentation As soon as you are able to, you may want to consider getting a copy of the police accident report. When involved in any motor vehicle accident, the parties involved should exchange contact and insurance information. This information includes the name of the trucking company, its contact information, and insurance information.
- Take Pictures If possible, you may also want to take pictures of the accident scene including pictures of the accident itself, any damage, street signs, skid marks, etc. This should not be attempted if it puts you in danger.
- See A Doctor If you are fortunate enough to walk away from your truck accident, and you suspect that you are injured, you may want to consider going to an emergency medical facility or urgent care facility as soon as you’re able to. Instead of trying to appear to be indestructible, you should be realistic and, if injured, get emergency medical attention immediately.
Why Is Seeing a Doctor After a Truck Accident Important?
First and foremost, if you are injured in a truck accident, it may be important to see a doctor and have your injuries tended to. Here are some reasons of why you may want to see a doctor following your accident:- Your Health Is Most Important As mentioned above, if you are involved in a truck accident, your health should be the first thing on your mind. After an accident, it’s possible that adrenaline could be masking injuries that might not appear for days, or even weeks. However, a proper medical examination may immediately reveal any hidden injuries.
- Your Case Does not Exist Without a Doctor’s Report The reason you visit a personal injury attorney after a truck accident is because you want compensation to help you recover from your injuries. If you have no documentation from a doctor regarding those injuries, then your lawyer will have difficulty making your case.
- Associating Injuries With the Truck Crash Even if you have injuries that are visible, your lawyer still needs verification from a doctor that those injuries were sustained in the accident. It is important for people to remember that there needs to be proof of injuries for a personal injury claim.
- Identify Severity of Injuries Not only will a doctor prove you were injured and associate those injuries with the truck accident, but they will also provide your attorney with information on the severity of those injuries. Your doctor will be able to tell if you will need long-term treatment or therapy to recover from your injuries.
Who Is Responsible For a Truck Accident?
When you make a claim for a truck accident, you have to determine the party responsible for the accident. In a truck crash, a responsible party could be:- The driver
- The trucking company (maintenance and routing)
- The crew that secured the load
- The state personnel at the scale that may have improperly weighed the truck and left it on the road