Commercial vehicles include buses, limousines, box trucks, ice cream trucks, cargo vans, and construction vehicles. Any truck used to transport passengers or move goods from one location to another is a commercial truck. Inadequate maintenance, driver fatigue, weather conditions, and human error are all factors that can cause commercial truck accidents.
If you’ve been in an accident with a commercial truck, you may need to pursue an insurance claim. In some cases, the cause of the accident or the severity of injuries sustained may warrant legal action. The amount of time needed to resolve a lawsuit can vary widely based on the case’s nature.
Respond to the accident appropriately.
You may be unconscious or trapped in your vehicle following an accident, but if you’re lucid and able to move, there are steps you can take at the scene of the accident to protect your legal rights. Use your smartphone to contact the police. The police must be notified if a person is injured in an accident or if the damages exceed a preset minimum amount, which varies from state to state. The accident report filed by the police may also provide valuable evidence if you go to court.
Use your smartphone to photograph the vehicles involved. Take pictures of the license plates. You can also take pictures of witnesses at the scene. If possible, exchange contact and insurance information with the other drivers involved in the accident and gather contact information for witnesses that stopped.
Google “truck accident attorney in Denver” and confer with a lawyer specializing in lawsuits stemming from motor vehicle accidents. Attorneys who specialize in this field are familiar with relevant case law and know what evidence can build a strong case. You can receive a free consultation, and once you hire an attorney, they will guide you through the legal process as they pursue your claim.
It’s crucial to be cautious about sharing information at the scene of the accident. Do not accept responsibility for the accident or provide any information that can be used against you.
Seek medical treatment for all potential injuries.
Have medical professionals examine you as soon as possible. Report all symptoms you’re experiencing and monitor yourself following your accident. If you suffer from whiplash, you may not develop symptoms for 24 hours or more. Complete all medical tests your physician recommends to ensure you receive a thorough diagnosis and identify all injuries stemming from your accident. Your medical records will be critical when building your legal case.
You may also need to see a therapist following your accident. If your accident was severe and caused critical medical issues, you’re more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, any person who’s been in a motor vehicle accident may develop PTSD and require treatment to help manage the symptoms of PTSD. In severe cases, accident victims may be unable to work, and their quality of life may be affected. Your lawyer can pursue compensation for mental health treatment and pain and suffering caused by your accident, and you can support this claim with documentation from your therapist.
Take appropriate steps to manage your symptoms.
If you sustained severe physical injuries, you might need to hire people to perform tasks you once did yourself, such as important renovations for homeowners. You may not be able to inspect your roof or replace missing shingles yourself. Document instructions from your doctor to support the need to hire staff, retain copies of daily living expenses you incurred resulting from your injuries, and provide your lawyer with this information.
You may also need to relocate due to your injuries. If your limbs were injured and you need to use assistive devices, you may need to move to a home without stairs. You may opt to store your clothes in a storage unit, along with other possessions, to reduce your expenses by living in a smaller home, particularly if you’re unable to work.
It can take several months or years to settle a commercial truck accident case. The timeframe may be affected by the severity of your injuries and the contributing factors that caused the accident. Taking appropriate steps at the accident scene, receiving medical care, and managing your symptoms can produce evidence used to support your claim while you wait for your case to be resolved.
