A truck accident can be physically, emotionally, and financially devastating for passenger vehicle occupants. In addition to having to recover from often catastrophic injuries, truck accident victims also need to sort through issues of liability that are more complicated than in a traditional car accident.
Below, our Houston personal injury attorneys discuss the steps you should take to protect your rights after a truck accident.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
It’s important to understand that most trucks are commercial vehicles, which means they are owned and/or operated by a corporation for business purposes. As such, there are multiple parties involved in the trucks’ maintenance and operation and, therefore, multiple parties that may be held liable for an accident involving a truck from their fleet.
Given this, there are additional steps you must take after a truck accident in order to recover the compensation you deserve, including the following:
- Check to see if anyone requires medical attention and if so, contact emergency services.
- Seek medical attention, even for injuries that seem minor.
- Report the crash to your insurer and the police.
- Obtain a copy of the responding officer’s police report to use as supporting evidence of your accident claim.
- Exchange information with the truck driver. In addition to the truck driver’s personal information, make sure to gather information related to their employer, including the trucking company’s name and business contacts.
- Check for witnesses and write down or record statements from them.
- Look around you to see if there are any nearby traffic or security cameras whose footage you can use as supporting evidence for your accident claim.
- Never apologize after an accident. Although this may seem like a normal reaction, issuing a simple apology may later be used against you to deny your claim.
- Contact an experienced personal injury attorney who has a proven track record of success in cases like these.
Who May Be Held Liable in a Truck Accident?
As mentioned previously, there are several different parties that may be held liable for a truck accident. These parties may include the following:
- The truck driver, if they were driving while drunk or intoxicated, or made an egregious traffic error that caused the accident.
- The trucking company, if it hired a driver who should not have been on the road, such as someone with a DUI on their record.
- The cargo loaders, if they did not secure the truck’s cargo properly and a subsequent cargo shift caused the accident.
Injured in a Truck Accident? We’re Here to Help
If you have been injured in a truck accident, our Houston personal injury attorneys can help you identify any and all liable parties and recover the compensation you deserve to pay for the medical treatment you need.
Contact The Ammons Law Firm at (281) 801-5617 to schedule a free consultation.
