Commercial tractor-trailers often weigh 20 to 30 times as much as passenger cars, making collisions between the two highly destructive. The aftermath of a truck crash can be chaotic, but you should take immediate action to receive compensation to help pay for medical expenses or recover lost wages.
You have a better chance of recovering damages and compensation when you work with a truck accident lawyer from Nessler & Associates. Your lawyer can secure documentation to prove the extent of your injuries and damages, help prepare all documentation, and take on the burden of the claims process while you recover.
Seek Medical Attention Immediately
As a result of the adrenaline from a truck accident, you may not notice an injury at first. The pain may appear over time even if you feel fine at the scene. For example, the sudden snapping movement of the head results in a neck injury like whiplash. It is also possible to sustain broken bones and soft tissue damage from the force of an impact.
Even if everyone involved in the crash appears fine, it’s essential to call 911. Medical professionals may need to stabilize severe internal injuries, such as head trauma and internal bleeding, that do not have any visible injury.
After leaving the scene, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible. A doctor can identify your condition using diagnostic tests, imaging scans, physical examinations, and neurological examinations. The doctor will ask you about your symptoms and events that may have contributed to the injury. Seeing a doctor ensures your injuries are stabilized and you have documentation to prove the crash caused your injuries.
Know What to Say At the Scene
When the police arrive at the scene, they will ask you for the following information as part of the investigation into the accident:
- Date and time
- Contact information
- Any vehicle damage and visible injuries
- Explanation of what happened before and during the crash
- Details about the road and any environmental hazards that contributed to the accident
Remember to remain honest, calm, and polite when you speak with the police about the accident. But be careful how you answer the police and avoid blaming or apologizing for your fault in the accident.
Any statements you make to the police can incriminate you and reduce your chances of gaining compensation. Instead, when responding to the officer’s questioning, make brief and concise statements and only provide the necessary facts.
Take Comprehensive Accident Pictures and Videos
Photographing and taking videos of the scene can help you and your attorney prove what happened. These images can assist with accident reconstruction and show damages or injuries that occurred. Ensure you take photos, including:
- The entire perimeter of the accident scene, including road conditions, street signs,
- All passenger vehicles and trucks involved in the accident, including the license plates, damage, and debris around them.
- Interior damage, including deployed airbags, loose parts, and bloodstains.
- Close-up pictures of the victims’ injuries, such as bruising, lacerations, or swelling.
- Pictures of commercial buildings and apartment complexes near the truck accident site.
Ask other drivers and witnesses for photos to see if anybody has video footage of the crash from a dashcam device. An experienced commercial truck accident attorney may also be able to request footage from commercial buildings’ surveillance cameras to help bolster your accident claim.
Speak with Witnesses
If you can speak with a witness, ask for their contact information, including their name, phone number, and email. Then, you can ask them to write down everything that happened before and after the accident in a statement.
A witness can be crucial in proving your side of the story in a personal injury case.
For instance, they can verify if the other driver was on the phone at the time of the accident, was driving recklessly, or had disobeyed road rules. If the accused driver alleges another factor caused the collision, eyewitness testimony may contradict them.
Upon determining the critical information within the statement, your attorney may schedule an interview with the witness to obtain their testimony. The lawyer may then construct an accurate interpretation of the event leading up to the accident based on the witness’s information.
Create and Organize a Medical File
Ask your physician to provide you with a copy of all your medical records for your file. Each medical record associated with your treatment provides valuable evidence that your attorney can use to prove the severity of your injuries. They also contribute to the compensation you receive in a personal injury case.
The medical file you keep should contain the following forms:
- Initial treatment report
- Medical invoices
- Doctor’s appointments
- Benefit letters from the insurance company
- Diagnostic test results
- Copy of the imaging results
- Prescription medications
- Referrals to specialists
- Costs of medical transportation
Severe injuries may require you to keep much more extensive records of your financial damages. For example, when you sustain a severe head injury, such as a traumatic brain injury that affects your mobility, keep all receipts for the modifications you have made to your home, such as installing grab bars in your bathroom. Saving receipts for any personal services you require, such as in-home care, is essential for receiving compensation for your injuries.
Keep a Journal
Keeping a journal helps you to give your lawyer detailed information about your medical condition so that they can keep track of your pain and suffering and other non-economic losses. Additionally, it helps you communicate with your doctor about your mental health during treatment.
For instance, if you suffered permanent disfigurement, the journal entries can contain elements of psychological trauma, such as:
- Stress
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Confusion
- Loss of memory
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer
In the aftermath of an accident, the truck driver must report it to their employer and take a post-accident substance abuse test. An investigator from the trucking company’s insurance company will likely visit the accident scene immediately to build a case. Then, the insurer’s representative may contact you to get your accident statement.
A truck accident lawyer can speak with the insurance company on your behalf, maintaining all communications and negotiating a fair settlement with them. They identify all evidence supporting your case, including police reports, witness statements, and testimony from accident reconstruction specialists.
If the insurance company refuses to offer you a fair settlement, you and your lawyer can decide whether to continue negotiating through arbitration or sue in court.
Contact Us to Help After Your Truck Accident
When recovering from truck accident injuries, it is important to document your injuries and medical condition. The attorneys at the law firm of Nessler & Associates can help you build a solid case to recover the compensation you deserve for your injury and losses, using any available evidence.
We work with clients across Colorado, Florida, Illinois, and Texas to offer you the best legal representation you deserve.
Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation 24/7. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t have to pay legal fees until we settle or win your case.