While preventing a truck accident is ideal, you only can control the actions of your vehicle, not those around you.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, passenger vehicles and their occupants that are involved in a crash with a semi-truck have very little chance of walking away from these situations without injury. The disparity in size of commercial semis and average passenger vehicles is so huge that serious consequences are almost certain in the event of an accident. No one expects an accident, but if one occurs, it is very important to know how to handle the situation and protect your case right from the start.
Protecting yourself by avoiding driving in the blind spots of large vehicles, and closely following the rules of the road like never cutting in front of a semi-truck, paying close attention to a truck’s turn signals, and keeping your distance is sometimes is not enough. While preventing a truck accident is ideal, you only can control the actions of your vehicle, not those around you. If you or a loved one experiences an accident with a large commercial vehicle or a semi-truck, getting in contact with a truck accident attorney is crucial. In addition to contacting an attorney and seeking medical attention right away, there are several other things that those involved should keep in mind.
What to do following an accident involving a semi-truck:
- Never leave the scene of the accident
- Do not make any statements to anyone
- Do not admit fault
- Take pictures of the scene
- Preserve evidence, including your vehicle
- Never sign anything or discuss the situation without an attorney present
- Get the contact information of any witnesses
- Do not speak to other insurance companies
- If anyone contacts you about the accident, direct them to your truck accident attorney, never answer any questions, even seemingly innocuous ones.
- Report your accident to the DMV – in some states this is a necessity
When a serious accident occurs, the scene will be hectic. But keeping a level head is important in making a case and receiving compensation from the insurance company. Your truck accident attorney will be able to steer you in the right direction as to what you should do and what the right moves should be in dealing with insurance companies, seeking damages, and proving liability. Retaining an attorney should be one of your top priorities following an accident, having someone who is experienced in handling semi-truck accident cases, interacting with insurance companies, preserving evidence, and has your best interests in mind, will give you peace of mind regarding your case.
If the worst case scenario happens and your family member or loved one has been involved in a truck accident that resulted in death, the case automatically becomes a wrongful death case. Semi-truck accidents have the very real possibility of resulting in very serious injury or death, and when an accident happens, the responsible parties need to be held accountable. If the accident is caused by negligence on the part of the truck driver or trucking company, your truck accident lawyer will make sure that justice is served and the responsible parties are held accountable.
St. Louis Truck Accident Lawyer
At the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann we will fight to make sure that the trucking company is held responsible for their failure. We are experienced Truck Accident Lawyers who know how to win against trucking companies. Call us today at (314) 361-4300 for a free and private consultation.