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Experiencing a road accident is definitely a life-altering event, especially when you have incurred serious injury. Mistakes to avoid after a commercial truck accident are crucial to maximizing your claim. And if you are involved in a commercial truck accident, the chances of sustaining a severe injury are great, and it may even result in loss of life. So, if this situation occurs, you want to ensure that the negligent truck driver is held accountable for your damages as much as possible.
But the fact of the matter is, getting the truck driver and the company to be held responsible is not that easy, especially when you’re dealing with injury claims, as they will always make an effort to lessen the compensation that they have to pay. If you want your case to proceed smoothly and receive the compensation you deserve, we recommend that you continue reading.
Learn more as we are going to shed some light on what kind of mistakes you need to avoid after experiencing a commercial truck accident, and know the importance of getting an experienced truck accident attorney to represent you.
First and foremost, you have to understand the importance of composure in times of accidents. Sure, it’s very understandable that you may feel panicked after having a road accident. After all, human nature dictates that we should feel frightened during these instances.
However, the key is not to succumb to panic, as it will only prevent you from thinking clearly. And not being able to think clearly will only lead you to commit mistakes, which can yield very costly results in the end.
Immediately after the accident, you need to stay calm and compose yourself so you can assess the situation properly. And once you are calm and collected, you can clearly evaluate the incident and determine the next steps to take.
Another mistake that most victims of big rig accidents usually make is failing to seek medical attention immediately. It’s always recommended to NEVER treat any injury as “not being serious enough”, even if your injuries are not fatal. Failing to seek medical care can lead to further complications.
As a victim of a commercial truck accident, you should realize that not all injuries are immediately apparent. In other words, you may have sustained serious internal injuries that require immediate medical attention, and you don’t even know it yet. Therefore, it’s crucial to consult a doctor first, as they can assess the extent of your injuries and document your condition at the time of the unfortunate event.
Subsequently, if the injuries you have sustained have worsened or if the truck driver claims that your injury was sustained before the accident happened, then you can establish your case by having a medical record that vouches for your physical status at the period in question.
Speaking with insurance company investigators after a commercial truck accident is always a big no-no. And this is one mistake that you need to avoid, as interacting with these individuals can be very tricky. In short, they tend to take advantage of your weary condition to find loopholes so they can pay less on the insurance claim. There are even times when these people will try to sway you into admitting certain faults in the accident to reduce the money they’ll have to pay for your damages.
So it’s best to avoid talking to them first until you have an experienced truck accident attorney at your side to give advice on the details that you can disclose and the things you don’t need to say to them.
However, you must also keep in mind not to entirely ignore the insurance company, as some company regulations and certain states have deadlines when a victim should report the truck accident to the insurance carrier in order to be eligible to receive compensation.
There is a possibility that the truck company and its insurance carrier may attempt to persuade you to sign away your rights and accept a lower initial settlement offer. And though it may seem enticing to sign right away, we strongly advise against this process.
As the victim of the commercial truck accident, you are entitled to seek the right amount of compensation. So don’t budge in just yet and let an experienced truck accident attorney evaluate their offer first.
It’s normal for us to show sympathy, especially when the driver is also injured after the accident. However, a show of sympathy can sometimes be misleading. So as much as possible, don’t try to admit even to a minor portion of the fault, as this will prevent you from recovering the right compensation.
Of course, it’s acceptable to offer necessary help by calling the paramedics and the law enforcement authorities, but it would be best to say as little about the incident as possible until you have acquired the services of a legal counsel who is an expert in truck accidents.
No matter how serious the accident is, it’s always crucial to contact the proper authorities IMMEDIATELY. The reason for this is that police investigators can create a record of what really happened by interviewing both parties involved, as well as witnesses, and documenting the scene based on the facts they have collected.
Likewise, you can also document the accident by taking photos of the impact, the road conditions, the signage, skid marks, and any other evidence that may be valuable as you prove the liability of the truck driver to the civil court.
And lastly, and probably the most important mistake to avoid after experiencing a commercial truck accident, is attempting to handle the situation alone. Truck accidents are complex and should be handled by an individual knowledgeable in Federal Law Regulations and other relevant legal matters related to the incident.
So it’s always recommended that you hire an experienced truck accident attorney in the event of a truck accident, as they have the capacity to represent your side in the best way possible. Apart from the services they can provide, as mentioned above, they will ensure that you are entitled to the right compensation for the injuries you have incurred.
If you or a loved one is involved in a big rig crash and you don’t want to make any mistakes handling the situation, contact a Texas Truck Accident Lawyer for a free consultation. Take advantage of our 35 years of experience in truck accident litigation.
Don’t settle for less! Call (281) 893-0760 today! We are available 24/7!
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