Commercial vehicle accidents can be extremely dangerous. People involved in these accidents can suffer serious injuries that can have a life-long impact. The vehicles involved are usually quite pricey and the financial burden of the incident can also be serious.
Whether you own the vehicle that is involved in the crash or it is company property, tackling a commercial vehicle accident case takes some time and skill. Handling the issue the wrong way can not only deprive you of the compensation that you deserve but instead, it can end up costing you both money and stress. If you have been involved in a truck crash, this is what you should do.
Medical Attention
The most important thing to do is to get medical attention right away. Ideally, you should consult an emergency medicine specialist and not your regular GP or physician. Accident injuries are very different from regular medical problems and it requires a thorough expert to properly evaluate the nature and extent of the damage.
The most dangerous injuries are those that aren’t apparent right after the crash. Injuries such as whiplash and concussions don’t show any signs till at least 24 hours and sometimes 48-72 hours later. During this period, if the injury is not detected and dealt with properly it could escalate into a life-threatening situation. Don’t wait for insurance to intervene, get medical attention as soon as possible.
Professional Representation
The best-case scenario is that the authorities that respond to the site of the crash clear out whose fault it is and make a decision on who the liable driver is. However, things don’t always go that smoothly. If there are company vehicles involved then this will nearly always take longer. In any case, it is a good idea to get legal representation for yourself or at least raise this issue with your company.
The best solution is to get a truck accident in a construction zone lawyer or at least a lawyer who specializes in accidents involving commercial vehicles. They will be able to give you the right advice about how you should pursue the situation and in the case that you need to go to court, they will be able to give you representation. An experienced lawyer will know all the things that you need to be mindful of when handling such a legal battle and can help you more efficiently achieve the desired results.
Contact Concerned Parties
You also need to get in touch with any other stakeholders and let them know about the accident. This can include the trade union that you are connected to, your insurance provider, the company’s legal team, the company financing the vehicle, and anyone else that may be impacted by this incident. All these parties will have a stake in either the vehicle, the company that the vehicle belongs to, or the people that are involved in the accident.
It will be in everyone’s best interest to make sure all stakeholders are aware of the situation. They can help you in resolving the issue quickly and in a way that will benefit you. You may also be legally obligated to inform any other stakeholders, so make sure you discuss this with your lawyer.
Evidence
A crucial component of any legal case is evidence. When you present your case in front of insurance companies, employers, the court, or even the other party, you need to have the right evidence to support your claim. Anything and everything can be considered evidence but your focus should be on gathering the highest quality evidence possible.
This can include pictures and videos of the crash, eyewitness accounts, medical reports, and any documentation that is relevant to the accident. Discuss the evidence with your lawyer and see how you can formulate a case that will show how you are the real victims of the crash.
After the truck accident, you will be dealing with many different issues. However, amidst all the chaos you need to keep in mind that you are battling a legal issue as well and there are certain things you need to do for this cause. For instance, you need to take action within the statutory period. Every state has its own statutory period and if you don’t take timely action, you may lose the right to file any claims in the accident.
Moreover, you need to know how to file claims and what the legal procedure of the case is. These are things that your lawyer will help you with so finding a good lawyer as soon as possible will be in your best interest. Accident claim cases can take a while to reach a conclusion so the sooner you start the better.
