Commuting has become an expected and necessary part of modern life, whether commuting to the office, to school, or traveling for pleasure on the weekend. People use various means of transportation, from bicycles, to personally owned cars or motorcycles, and even public transportation options like a bus or taxi. For commercial purposes, large construction vehicles and trucks also share the roads. With so many vehicles traveling the roadways on a daily basis for various reasons, accidents are sure to happen.
Some of the Reasons for Accidents:
- Reckless or careless driving
- Distractions while driving, such as the use of a cell phone
- Improper loading of cargo
- Poorly maintained vehicles
- Driving during unfriendly weather or poor visibility
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Unfamiliar or hazardous roads
- Inexperienced drivers
- Not following the rules of the road and traffic violations
Whatever the reasons, when an accident happens people can be injured or die. The accident victim’s family will likely experience both physical and financial hardship. A personal Injury Lawyer can assist the injured person and his family in getting financial compensation from the person responsible for the accident.
Many accidents occur between vehicles of disproportionate size, like a truck colliding with a bicycle, or a car colliding with a bus. Not all accidents cause significant injuries, but when a smaller vehicle collides with a larger vehicle, the outcome can be catastrophic. Accidents involving large commercial trucks tend to cause more significant injuries, often deadly. You can learn more about fatal accidents in San Antonio by navigating to myaccident.org.
What to Do When an Accident Occurs?
- The first and most important thing to do is to call for emergency assistance, to include emergency medical assistance, if necessary, and the police.
- Do not leave the scene of the accident until the police arrive and/or you have exchanged information with the other driver.
- Take several photos and videos of the scene, to include the vehicles involved and any damage, surrounding landmarks, stop lights and cross streets.
- Attempt to obtain the names and contact information of any witnesses.
- Obtain a thorough medical examination as soon as possible after the accident.
- After obtaining medical treatment, contact a legal professional.
Common injuries in truck accidents are broken bones, soft tissue damage, traumatic brain injury, back and neck injury, internal bleeding and internal organ injury, burns, amputations, etc. Injuries are not always immediately apparent. It is crucial to seek a medical examination after an accident even if you do not experience any immediate pain or discomfort. A medical examination will not only protect your health and well-being, but will also establish a record that can be used to recover compensation for your damages.
Why Do We Need Legal Assistance?
Truck accidents cause a lot of physical and property damage, as described above. They also impact your financial security as you try to keep up with the costs of medical treatment. Sometimes victims must undergo prolonged convalescence, forcing them to lose income due to the inability to work. Some family members may have a viable wrongful death claim due to the loss of support from a spouse or other family member whose death has created an economic hardship due to the loss of their financial and emotional support.
People suffer financial, mental, and physical damages caused by motor vehicle accidents. Victims may find it difficult to file an insurance claim or litigate a personal injury claim while trying to recover from an accident. Recovering compensation for your injuries requires collecting a lot of documentation, filling out and filing forms within specific time constraints, and understanding all processes and procedures.
Negligent drivers and insurance companies will often attempt to avoid liability. One should be competent in handling such cases. As a victim, it can be difficult to fight the case alone. An experienced attorney will know what to do and when, and can make the process much less burdensome for you.
- A lawyer can collect all relevant information necessary to begin the process, including the driver’s contact information and insurance provider, the place of the accident, the time of the accident, and who was present with you, etc.
- If a commercial vehicle was involved, they can collect information regarding the truck driver, the trucking company, the owner of any goods being carried during the accident, the manufacturer of the truck, and any other parties who may be jointly or severally liable for your damages
- They can advocate and negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance companies
- They can assess the severity of the injury and determine the extent of damages that are owed to you.
- They can track current treatment expenses related to any injuries caused by the accident and calculate future costs.
- In case of death, they can obtain the details and financial status of surviving family members for a potential wrongful death action.
- If settlement negotiations with the opposing insurance company fails, then they can prepare your case for litigation and file a lawsuit on your behalf within the statute of limitations period.
- They can submit all required documentation to the insurance company or court.
Sometimes, the insurance company may dispute a claimed amount and refuse to pay medical bills related to the accident. In these cases, a lawyer may:
- Work with you to ensure payments are made while actively pursuing the insurance company for reimbursement.
- If the insurance company continues to refuse, the lawyer can represent the victim during courtroom hearings.
- They can attend settlement hearings and advocate for fair compensation.
- If necessary, they can represent the victim at trial in front of a jury.
It Is Good to Be on Safer Side
Attorneys know the laws applicable to truck accident cases through training and experience. They understand how negligent parties and insurance companies attempt to avoid liability through creative interpretations of the policy coverage. They also protect the rights of victims when adversarial attorneys or overzealous insurance agents attempt to impose undue pressure on them in the hope that they will settle for less compensation.
If you have been involved in a truck or other accident involving a large motor vehicle or truck, contact a San Antonio Auto Accident Lawyer to get the compensation you are owed from the insurance company or other liable parties.