What To Do If You’re Involved In An 18-Wheeler Accident
There is not much that is more frightening than the thought of being involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler. After all, most accidents usually do not end well, and many can lead to fatalities. When you think about it, personal vehicles usually don’t stand a chance against these massive forces. With their bulky design, heavy load, need for long braking distances, and other endless scenarios, it’s no wonder being stuck on the road next to an 18-wheeler can send chills down your spine. Should you find yourself the victim of an 18-wheeler accident, here are a few tips to save yourself the headache in the long run.
Seek Medical Attention
First and foremost, if you can, check yourself and others in your vehicle for injuries. You will want to seek medical attention immediately. Even if you do not think you are injured, it is still very important to get checked by a medical professional in case of internal bleeding or other injuries you do not see or feel at the moment. Keep in mind, you could be in shock and injuries may be less obvious to you. By contacting a 911 emergency dispatcher, an ambulance, police, and fire department will be sent to the scene on your behalf.
On the Scene
Once the police arrive at the scene, be sure to disclose full details as you best remember them. Remember, you never want to admit fault to the accident. While the police are there, they will create an accident report outlining the details of their investigation at the scene. You will want to obtain a copy of the truck driver’s license, registration, insurance, and the truck driver’s employer name. Having witnesses and their contact information can also really help your case, especially if anyone has photos and/or video of the accident, damage, debris, and license plates. If you are capable, go ahead and take photos yourself to be used as evidence.
During Recovery
Keep a detailed record of how you are progressing during your recovery, as well as documenting any treatments or therapies, medical receipts, appointments, etc. These details can help document your case for your personal injury claim.
Seek Out a Highly Skilled Personal Injury Attorney
You do not want to call just any personal injury attorney. Be sure you reach out to an attorney that has experience in handling 18-wheeler accidents, as these cases are far more complex than auto accidents. You also never want settle with the truck driver’s company yourself. This can put you at risk of receiving a low offer when you deserve more for your pain and suffering. An experienced attorney will perform an investigation, gather evidence and prove negligence of the truck driver to support your claim and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Our Birmingham, Alabama personal injury firm can analyze your case. We have experience handling 18-wheeler collision claims. When appropriate, we will send spoliation letters to the appropriate parties so that they will preserve evidence such as the black box, driver logs, truck maintenance records, video, GPS records, etc. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates these tractor trailers, and we will look for those instances where the driver and trucking company have violated these provisions.
If you believe you have suffered as a result of someone else’s actions, contact us, Lewis and Feldman, 205-896-6410 toll-free at 888-705-3997 for a free, no-risk consultation about your injuries.
No representation is made that the quality of legal services performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
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