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Following a serious collision, you may ask yourself, “What can I do to protect my rights after a truck accident?” After seeking medical attention, one of the most critical steps for truck and car accident victims is to contact a personal injury lawyer.
A truck accident lawyer will be able to fight for your rights after a truck accident by:
While you never have to hire personal injury attorneys, they can handle a lot of the details that may otherwise seem overwhelming while you recover.
Immediately following a truck accident, you need to call the authorities to the accident scene. Collect evidence from the scene such as contact information of everyone involved, photos of the scene, and of the vehicles; and gather information about the truck driver and who owns the truck. Once the police arrive, give a statement and seek medical treatment immediately for your injuries.
While you are recuperating and getting in touch with our law firm, the authorities will piece together a police report, assessing property damage, liable parties, why the accident happened, etc.
Following the accident, do not go into detail about the incident with anyone, including the authorities, insurance adjusters, etc. Stick with the facts and tell them what you know is true –not what you think happened. Investigators will be called upon to review the truck collision and compare stories between you and the other driver.
Finally, contact our truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. This will give us the opportunity to begin an investigation into your claim and secure vital evidence to help your claim.
As stated, it is never a good idea to give an official statement to the insurance company following your truck accident without an attorney present.
By presenting only simple facts, you are helping to protect your rights. Should the truck driver, trucking company, or any insurance companies want more details, it will be important to call upon an attorney. Because you are likely flustered, you need to make sure you have time to:
Remember, the insurance company doesn’t want to hand out any more money than it has to, so if it can shift more blame to you, it will.
Depending on if the driver was an employee of the trucking company full time or was an independent contractor will largely be part of establishing liability and who must cover the settlement offer.
Truck accidents can occur when the driver is negligent, fatigued, etc. However, they can also occur because of mechanical failure, a poor inspection, or the semi company did not properly maintain and load the semi truck.
Regardless, it is more likely than not that your case will involve the trucking company, so make sure you understand the applicable laws it must follow as that can quickly build the case in your favor if they had not been followed.
For instance, a regulation that is often ignored by the trucking companies is the hours of service regulations. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, hours of service refer to how long a driver is permitted to be on duty. This includes driving time and the length of a rest period. Federal regulations state that those driving big rigs may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. In addition, drivers must take a 30-minute break when they have driven for a period of 8 consecutive hours without a 30-minute break.
However, many trucking companies want their drivers to ignore this rule. They push their drivers to get to their destinations and offer incentives. This means a lot more fatigued drivers are on the roadways.
At the end of the day, the only person on your side is your attorney. You have worked to create an attorney-client relationship with a truck accident lawyer so they can best protect you in court or in negotiations.
The trucking company, semi driver, and insurance company are not on your side–they just want to move your injury claim along and get back to business. You need someone to protect your rights and make sure you get the compensation you deserve following the accident. An experienced trucking accident lawyer from Regan Zambri Long PLLC can walk you through the claims process, get the evidence needed to prove your claim and negotiate with the insurance companies to get you the maximum amount of compensation for your injuries. If negotiations break down, then our attorneys have the skills and resources needed to head to the courtroom.
After an accident with a large truck, it is always recommended you seek legal advice from a truck accident attorney. They often will provide a free case evaluation to discuss your personal injury claim.
During that free consultation, they can go over the cost of your injuries, lost wages, etc. Further, they will gather evidence, help you seek medical care, recover compensation, and hold the responsible party at fault.
Remember, never admit fault. You may forfeit your legal rights, stopping your ability to seek financial recovery. If you suffered from serious injuries, chances are you will be facing months of medical bills that insurance will not cover. You may miss time from work and will be unable to enjoy many of the activities you did prior to the trucking accident. But a law firm specializing in truck accidents can help.
If you have suffered injuries following a collision with a semi truck in the Washington, DC metro area, a passionate lawyer at Regan Zambri Long can provide you with legal representation for truck accident cases. Contact our law firm to learn how we can help with your personal injury case in a free, no-obligation consultation. Injury victims don’t pay until we win.
Schedule your free consultation by calling (202) 960-4746 or by completing our online form.
