Understand how to protect yourself after an accident
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Accidents involving large commercial trucks will result in serious injury. They could impact the victim’s livelihood for the rest of their life. Although detailed investigations are being carried out to establish the cause of the accident, you will need intensive care to recover from your injuries.
The McCallister Law Firm stresses the importance of calling 911 immediately after a truck accident. You must receive prompt medical intervention to increase your chances of recovery. Law enforcement officials will investigate the cause of the accident to establish responsibility.
Nevertheless, truck accident investigations are complex and time-consuming. At least a few legal experts will be needed to receive proper compensation for your losses. A qualified attorney will seek damages on your behalf, including lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and disability. Here is some information on how truck accidents are investigated and some steps that will help you receive compensation for your injuries.
Gather information and evidence
The first information you will need is the license plate of the truck, the name of the trucking company, the exact names and addresses of all the people involved and the witnesses, as well as the data of the insurance company. Other essential information is police reports, witness statements, photos and videos from the scene of the accident.
The Federal Motor Vehicle Regulations forces trucking companies to higher standards because of the danger their heavy vehicles pose to the roads. To establish that the truck driver or trucking company is at fault, you will need to prove that the cause of the accident was their negligence. Law enforcement officials will look for any design flaws or faulty parts the truck may have. In addition, they will take into consideration any oversights regarding the hiring process or the supervision of the truck driver.
Prove responsibility
To receive much-needed compensation, it is essential to determine who is responsible for the accident. This is a complex process as different parties may be at fault, depending on the case. Anyone caught driving under the influence will be blamed entirely.
Speeding and disobeying traffic regulations can also lead to liability. However, the driver of the truck is not the only one who could be responsible for the accident. Trucking companies can be held liable if they don’t thoroughly examine the truck or ignore specific safety rules. Otherwise, these companies could push the driver to meet unrealistic deadlines, causing them distress, illness and lack of sleep, leading to unfortunate incidents.
Hire a personal injury lawyer
Trucking and insurance companies have teams of investigators who respond quickly to the scene of the truck accident. You, as the injured party, may not have the same resources. As evidence is essential to prove liability, you will need a good law firm on your side to investigate the scene of the accident and obtain the necessary evidence.
Truck accidents can lead to long term injuries and deaths. Trucking companies might be quick to offer you a settlement, but accepting it might not be in your favor. The settlement they offer might be far from what you need to cover your medical expenses. In this case, having a personal injury lawyer fight for you will bring you very favorable compensation. Your lawyer will interview witnesses, hire experts to reconstruct the accident scene and other specialists, obtain police reports and much more while you rest and heal.