All car accidents have the potential to be serious, but commercial truck accidents are on an entirely different level. Semi-trucks weigh many tons more than cars, and their weight can easily crush a small vehicle or knock it straight off the road. Victims who survive often end up with terrible injuries and life-changing medical bills.
If this has happened to you, learn what you should do next from a Texas truck accident attorney.
Collect All the Evidence You Can
Immediately after a truck accident, you should start gathering evidence if you’re able. Law enforcement will have the scene cleaned up quickly, and you won’t have another chance like this.
Use your phone to take as many pictures as you can. Snap photos of road conditions, your car, the semi-truck that hit you, and anything else you think may have contributed to the accident.
If the trucker seems drunk or on drugs, record a video of their behavior. Your Texas truck collision lawyer can use this evidence to prove they were at fault.
Contact Law Enforcement
Police may arrive at the scene to make a report without you calling them, but you must make a report yourself if they don’t. Texas requires you to do so within ten days of an accident involving serious injury, death, or property damage of at least $1,000 (conditions easily met in a semi-truck accident).
Exchange Information With the Other Driver
You probably know to exchange names, phone numbers, and insurance information with the other driver in an accident. Of course, you should do the same in a truck accident, but there’s other information to ask for that could help your case.
Ask the driver for their commercial driver’s license number, DOT number, and employer’s name. Your Texas truck accident attorney can contact the employer to request the truck’s black box data.
See a Doctor, Even If You Are Unsure of Your Injuries
An experienced Texas big rig accident lawyer will tell you that seeing a doctor is a must. This is true even in the unlikely event that you aren’t sure about your injuries after a truck accident.
Even minor truck accident injuries can worsen, so seeking treatment sooner rather than later is better. Seeing a doctor is also important to maximize your settlement amount. If you fail to do so, the insurance company might say you’re not very hurt and lower your settlement.
Watch What You Say to the Insurance Company
A few days after a truck accident, you’ll probably get a call from the insurance company. The adjuster will ask for your side of the story, but be careful of what you say. Admitting fault in any way, even by apologizing for the crash, could be enough to reduce your settlement.
Trucking accident legal support can tell you what to say (and not say) so you don’t damage your case.
Hire Commercial Truck Accident Legal Help
Truck accidents can be very complicated, so you should hire an 18-wheeler collision attorney in Texas as soon as possible. Your attorney can put together compelling evidence to prove you weren’t at fault for the crash.
One strong piece of evidence is the black box, as mentioned above. This little computer records everything a truck driver does on the road. If the driver was speeding, switching lanes too quickly, or braking too hard, a Texas big rig accident lawyer can prove they were at fault.
An experienced Texas truck accident attorney from McLaurin Law can help you win a fair settlement for your damages. Call us at (713) 528-8012 to seek truck accident legal support.
