What Happens if I’m in a Car Accident With a Commercial Vehicle?

Commercial vehicles are responsible for more accidents than other passenger vehicles, as they often weigh a lot more and have more blind spots on the road. No matter who is at fault in an accident with a commercial vehicle, you should always be prepared to be taken care of following an accident. As the victim of a car accident with a commercial vehicle, you may feel overwhelmed or unsure of what to do next. Here’s what happens if you’re involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle.

Establishing Liability

The first question you may want to ask after an accident is, “Who is responsible for the accident?” Yes, it’s important to figure out who caused the crash and ensure they are held responsible. But are you curious about why that truck hit your car? Who cares why it happened? You’re busy dealing with getting back on the road and figuring out how to get home without a ride.

If you have been injured in a car accident with a commercial truck and taken to the hospital, you must contact an attorney. It’s also important to ensure you have adequate medical treatment and financial resources available for your future. Commercial vehicle drivers are required by law to carry insurance coverage for their passengers, and that insurance will help take care of any medical bills and lost wages you may incur. The parties that may be held responsible include:

• Commercial transportation company
• Cargo loaders or manufacturer
• Truck driver
• Owner of the vehicle

What to Do After an Accident

As soon as the accident has occurred and both parties can move, you first need to check yourself and others involved in the crash. Here are steps you should take immediately after an accident:

1. Seek medical attention

If you are injured and need immediate medical attention, it’s important to seek out a hospital as soon as possible. Don’t move the vehicles involved in the accident until both drivers have been cleared by emergency personnel. Make sure to wait for law enforcement officials to arrive if the crash damaged property or someone has been severely injured.

Remember to keep track of medical bills; even if your injuries are minimal, you’ll still need to get treatment for your injuries. It’s important to keep track of any medical bills you may incur and how much time you miss working. This information can be used to calculate future lost wages if a claim is filed against another party in an accident.

2. Call the Authorities

Call the authorities as soon as possible after an accident, but don’t move the vehicles until a police officer has arrived. Sirens are a vital part of the process, so make sure you stay put until they arrive to help with any investigation that may be needed.

Typically, the first step after an accident is to report the wreck to the police. This helps provide a report that insurance companies and other parties involved in the crash need. The police will also send you a formal report detailing any information about the accident that needs to be submitted for your file. As soon as possible, it’s important to provide this information to your lawyer.

3. Take Photos

To help with the investigation, take photos of the crash. The photos should include the damage to both vehicles and any injured individuals. For reference, it’s also a good idea to have a video if you have one.

Photos act as evidence of the crash itself, as well as what happened during the accident. The photos will also determine who was at fault in the car accident, so ensure you get good shots. It’s best to take photos of the scene before any vehicles have been moved, but this isn’t always possible.

The police have access to a lot of information about your vehicle and how it was driven that can help their investigation into the crash. This includes information about your car and the road conditions during the accident. They will also ask for a statement from you about what happened before, during, and after the crash.

Your statement is most important in determining liability for the accident because it could be used in court to prove who was at fault. Police officers are trained specifically to get your side of the story, so don’t be intimidated by their questions or being asked to repeat information they believe they already know.

4. Exchange Information

Make sure to exchange information with the other driver. Write down their name, phone number, address, license plate number, and an insurance company. If anyone is injured, be sure they can provide the same information to you. Some of the important information that can be exchanged includes the name, address, employer, and insurance information of the following:

• Other drivers involved in the accident
• Passengers in the vehicle
• Witnesses to the accident

5. Call an Attorney

Once law enforcement officials arrive on the scene, notify your personal injury lawyer about the accident as soon as possible. An attorney will assist with any medical costs or lost wages that may occur after the accident and make sure you are compensated for your suffering from injuries in this car accident. T. Madden & Associates will help you through this difficult time and fight to get you the money you deserve for your injuries and damages.

If you were injured in a car accident, it is important to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer can help with any medical costs or lost wages that may occur after the accident and make sure you are compensated for your suffering from injuries in this car accident.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that the case of a commercial vehicle accident is more complicated than that of a personal vehicle accident. In addition to proving liability, it is important to show that the driver was negligent in the operation of their vehicle. This can be done by collecting evidence showing that they did not follow federal and state regulations while operating their truck. The most common violation of these regulations is texting while driving a commercial truck. A jury may also award punitive damages if they feel the driver was reckless or malicious during the operation of their truck. The amount awarded to the victim depends on how much the jury feels necessary to punish the party who injured you. In any accident, particularly trucking accidents, many different factors need to be considered to determine which party is liable or at fault for an accident.