The State of Texas is crisscrossed with thousands of miles of highways that are used by millions of drivers. Sharing the road with other motorists are thousands of massive commercial trucks. The attorneys and staff of The Queenan Law Firm, P.C. represent hundreds of victims that are injured in accidents involving these large vehicles. Below, our Arlington, TX truck accident lawyer reviews what you should do if you were in a collision with a commercial truck.
Steps to Take After a Commercial Truck Causes Your Accident in Texas
Car accidents are scary events; this is especially the case if you are involved in a collision with a large commercial truck. People in accidents with these large vehicles often suffer serious or permanent injuries. In many cases, the injuries are fatal. With the fear and panic that immediately follows an accident, you might not know exactly what to do. Once you have calmed down, our knowledgeable Dallas truck accident attorney offers some suggestions. Everything mentioned below could prove invaluable if you decide to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Get Medical Attention for Yourself and Your Passengers
The health and safety of you and any passengers should be your priority. As stated above, when a commercial truck hits a smaller car, serious injuries are likely. You want to ensure that you and your passengers are safe. Often, this means not moving someone until an ambulance arrives, including yourself. The following steps are only recommended for physically capable people.
Call the Police
If no one else has already made a call to the police, you should. Reporting the accident will ensure that law enforcement arrives to secure the roadway. Additionally, the police will make sure that an ambulance and other emergency personnel are called to the scene of the truck accident. Make sure the police complete an incident report and request a way to get a copy of the report. You should also ask for the names and contact information of any officer on the scene.
Take Photos of the Scene
Nearly everyone these days has a cellphone that allows them to take photographs and videos. If you have one available, take pictures of the scene of the truck accident. Do not worry about taking too many – more is always better. Take photographs of the vehicles involved. You want to include all the damage and as many angles as possible. Do not forget to take pictures of the roadway, skid marks, signage, and the surrounding area. You do not know what detail could prove vital in a personal injury case, and photos are great tools for helping witnesses remember what occurred.
Talk to and Get Contact Information from Witnesses at the Scene
The human memory is an imperfect recording device. For that reason, it is essential to get statements from anyone who saw the truck accident as soon as possible. If they allow you to, you should record any witnesses that you can. You should also gather their contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses. While the police may talk with some of them, there is no guarantee they will speak with every witness. This information will also help our Fort Worth truck accident attorneys track down the witnesses as soon as possible. The fresher the memory, the better the evidence.
Follow Up with Your Doctor and Your Medical Treatment
You will likely be taken to a hospital after an accident involving a commercial truck. Even if you believe your injuries are minor, you should still go. Many times, the full extent of an injury might not be immediately known. Nonetheless, medical documentation is critical in a personal injury lawsuit. Any delay in receiving medical treatment could open a door for an aggressive defense attorney to argue that your injuries were not related to the accident. The initial visit is usually not enough, be sure to follow through with any future appointments or medical treatments.
Contact Our Experienced Texas Truck Accident Attorney
You should not be responsible for your medical costs or financial losses if you were not at fault in a commercial truck accident. The truck driver and trucking company have insurance companies and lawyers working to mitigate their liability. You need someone fighting for your rights. While you must report the accident to your insurance company, you should speak with our Houston truck accident attorney before speaking with an insurance adjuster representing the truck driver or trucking company. Even when you talk with your provider, you should keep your statements short, simple, and stick to the facts. Nothing you say should indicate fault or minimize your injuries.
Personal Injury Lawsuits After a Commercial Truck Causes an Accident in Texas
As stated above, trucking companies and insurance providers for truck drivers will take immediate action to limit their liability after an accident. In most cases, an insurance company will have investigators at the scene of the accident before the damaged vehicles are removed. They are already working on a defense against a personal injury lawsuit.
Texas follows the “modified comparative fault rule” in personal injury lawsuits. Under this rule, if a driver is found to have contributed more than 50 percent towards an accident, they are prohibited from collecting damages. Additionally, if it is determined that you were less than 50 percent at fault, your compensation will still be reduced. For example, if you were found to have contributed 40 percent to the accident, your recovery would be reduced by 40 percent. Insurance companies are aware of this and will look to prove that you were at least partially to blame. By retaining our Irving, TX truck accident attorney early in the process, we can begin crafting a strong defense to these allegations.
Call Our Texas Attorney if You Were in an Accident with a Commercial Truck
If you are injured in an accident with a commercial truck, you could be facing life-altering injuries. Many of the initial steps you take and the decisions you make could greatly influence your chances of recovering for your damages. Our Arlington, TX personal injury lawyer has years of assisting victims hurt in crashes with large commercial vehicles. Call The Queenan Law Firm, P.C. at (817) 476-1797 to schedule a free consultation and start fighting for what you deserve.