Trucking is a hard job that consists of long hours and tough and time-sensitive deliveries, which puts a lot of pressure on the driver. Things tend to go smoothly when this pressure is being handled by a driver who is responsible and takes these responsibilities seriously.
However, when a truck driver is negligent, the results can be fatal. In addition to that, there are other factors, such as mechanical failures caused by poor maintenance or poor road conditions, that might also become contributing factors when it comes to a trucking accident.
Discussed below are some of the things you should do if you are ever unfortunate enough to be involved in a trucking accident.
1. Ask for Advice Early On
If you have been in an accident involving a truck, there might be a lot of damage to your vehicle. These damages can easily write off your car. Moreover, you might also sustain injuries that might be serious. This can lead to a lot of complexities when it comes to dealing with the aftermath of a trucking-related accident.
In a trucking-related accident, every party is trying to shift blame away from them, and that might also involve your insurance company, which might be looking to wiggle out of their liability to pay. In such a situation, your best bet is to consult with a truck accident attorney.
By hiring a truck accident attorney, you will have an expert team of trucking injury attorneys at your disposal who will guide you every step of the way and make sure that every scenario turns out in your favor.
2. Get Medical Assistance
In case you have sustained injuries in your accident involving a truck your priority should be to get medical attention. However, you should not state any extra detail on any of your forms without first consulting with your attorney.
The things that are part of your medical record can be subpoenaed in court in case of a claim for compensation. These records will be gone through, and things will be construed against you. The liable party will do anything in their power to shift blame away from them.
3. Document Things Along the Way
A great asset to have in your civil battle for compensation can be documentation. In today’s world, almost every one of us has a smartphone capable of taking pictures and videos. These pictures and videos can be the best documentation that you can have.
Such documentation will not only help you remember the events of the day clearly, but it will also help your attorney paint a literal picture of the events in front of the jury. This will help your case tremendously and will enable you to get awarded a decent sum of compensation for your suffering.
4. Figure Out Who Is at Fault
A major part of the success of a compensation suit is putting the liability on whom it belongs. If you target a party that is not directly liable to pay for your damages, then your claim can fall short of your expectations. In worst-case scenarios, you can even get penalized for suing the wrong party.
You will also have to decide if you want to file a suit for compensation against personal injury or for damages. An attorney can help you identify the parties responsible for your suffering. By having your efforts directed in the right direction you can enable yourself to get the compensation that you deserve.
5. Keep a List of Your Expenses
Another part of a successful compensation claim is on paper documentation. Keeping all the receipts of your expenses and damages can give you a head start in court when it comes to adducing evidence to support your claim.
These receipts will not only give you a clear picture of all your expenses but you will also be able to justify the compensation that you are claiming. This list will involve all your medical bills, the estimate of damages done to your vehicle by a certified shop, and your legal fees, of course.
6. Get Your Insurance Involved
Once you have a clean bill of health and you have spoken to your attorneys, the next thing to keep in mind is getting your insurance involved. Your vehicle insurance is responsible for providing you with an estimate of damages to your car.
They will also be the ones who decide if your vehicle is repairable or if it is deemed to be a total loss. The estimate that they provide will be the basis of your claim when it comes to the compensation for monetary damages. So, get in touch with your insurance company to start the process of developing a claim.
7. Do Not Accept an Offer
After you have sued the parties that are liable for your suffering, before the suit is set for hearing, you will be pressured by the representatives of the parties liable for your damages to accept an out-of-court settlement, which might be far below what you are asking for.
In such a case, you have to stand your ground and leave the negotiations to your attorneys. An attorney will know how strong your case is and how much compensation you might be able to get for your injuries. If you sit in a negotiation without your attorney, you might not come out ahead.
8. Take a Step Back and be Patient
Process in the civil courts can be lengthy and arduous; this is to protect all parties involved, and it is not something to get riled up about. For a compensation claim to be successful, you have to be patient. Things tend to take a long time when attorneys are involved.
However, rest assured there is no harm in following the due process of the law, and by being patient, you will be able to see things through. Time heals; some time passing by can also be good for your mental health; it can be easier for you to process the traumatic events of a truck accident if some time has passed.
Tradersdna is a leading digital and social media platform for traders and investors. Tradersdna offers premiere resources for trading and investing education, digital resources for personal finance, market analysis and free trading guides. More about TradersDNA Features: What Does It Take to Become an Aggressive Trader? | Everything You Need to Know About White Label Trading Software | Advantages of Automated Forex Trading
