What to Do if You are Involved in a Tractor-Trailer Accident - AllCarIndex
There are thousands and thousands of accidents on the roads every year. These are caused by faulty vehicles, reckless drivers, poor road or weather conditions, and various other factors. A vehicle accident can cause a huge amount of damage, injury, and even death in the most serious of cases. Accidents involving trucks and other big vehicles can be particularly dangerous as they are so heavy and difficult to control. There has been a rising number of tractor-trailer accidents in recent years, and so it is important to know what to do if you have an incident with a tractor-trailer.
Here is what to do if you are involved in a tractor-trailer accident.
Call the Police to Mediate and Provide Evidence
The first thing you need to do if you are involved in a tractor-trailer accident is to call the police. It is very important that you don't leave the scene of the accident, particularly if there is substantial damage or people have been injured, and that you wait for the police to come and mediate. The police will take reports, speak to witnesses, make the scene of the accident safe for you and other road users, and make any arrests that are necessary. It is very important that the police make their reports because you will be able to use them as evidence in any resulting legal proceedings. Police reports and witness statements are the most compelling evidence in a vehicle accident and can make the defining difference in court.
Get the Relevant Information from the Tractor-Trailer Driver
For any accident involving a tractor-trailer, it is very important that you make a note of both the trailer number and the DOT number, as well as the name and contact information of the driver and the company. If the driver will not give you this information, your attorney will be able to find it out later using the trailer number. All of this information is very important because it links a specific person and company to the accident which will enable you to seek damages from them and will help the legal authorities to hold them to account for any dangerous practices or recklessness that occured.
Contact a Specialist Attorney
Accidents involving tractor-trailers can cause huge amounts of damage and serious injuries which can cost a lot of money to resolve. It is, therefore, absolutely vital that you secure the maximum amount of compensation which you are entitled to so that you can use the money to pay for your medical bills, repair your vehicle, and move on with your life. The legal experts at https://www.stewartlawoffices.net/charlotte-personal-injury-lawyer/tractor-trailer-accidents explains that your attorney will follow up on identifying the other driver, prepare your case fully, ensure that your rights are protected, and advise you about what is a fair compensation offer. Trying to represent yourself in court, even in a seemingly straightforward accident case, is extremely difficult and time consuming. As most accident attorneys don't charge unless they win your case, you don't need to worry about legal fees.
Gather Evidence
Evidence is, of course, very important in proving what you say happened. It will be your word against the tractor-trailer driver and so in order to help your case, it is vital that you take photos, gather witness statements, and submit police and medical reports. All of this can seem very overwhelming but if you hire an experienced accident attorney, they will take care of all of this for you. Try to make sure that your photos are time stamped so that you can show they were taken at the scene of the accident. The majority of phone cameras have this capability so it should be easy to do. Try to get all the witnesses' key contact information at the scene so that you or your lawyer will be able to reach out to them later for a statement or further comment.
Seek Medical Assistance
Make sure that you have all injuries checked as soon as possible so that you can receive treatment immediately. You may be suffering from shock or trauma and this can make you think that there is no injury. The medical reports generated in your examination can also be key evidence so even if you don't think your injuries are too bad, it may be important at a later date that you can show you went to the hospital.
All crashes on the road can have serious consequences but tractor-trailer accidents can be particularly dangerous. If you have been involved in a tractor-trailer accident, it is vital that you seek both medical and legal assistance. Make sure that you have your injuries treated as soon as possible and that you speak to an experienced lawyer to help you with any compensation you may be entitled to.