What To Do After A Semi-Truck Hits Your Car
Posted in Car accidents,Truck Accidents on March 2, 2020
Large truck crashes can be incredibly devastating for everyone involved in the incident. According to the latest year of data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were 4,567 large trucks involved in fatal crashes and 56,422 large trucks involved in injury crashes. We have many large trucks in Tennessee, both conducting business within the state and traveling through on our highways.
Anyone who is struck and injured by a semi-truck may be entitled to compensation. It is important for victims in these incidents to contact a Nashville truck accident lawyer and understand what steps to take in order to secure maximum compensation for their claim.
Steps to take immediately following the accident
The most important thing you can do in the immediate aftermath of a large truck crash is to assess your condition and the condition of your passengers.
- Call the police: Call 911 and ensure that law enforcement and emergency personnel are on the way to the accident.
- Seek medical attention: Even if you do not think you are injured, seek medical attention as soon as possible. The signs and symptoms of many accident injuries do not appear for hours or even days after the accident occurs.
- Document everything: If possible, use your phone to take pictures of everything at the scene, including vehicles, damages, injuries, causes of the accident, and more. Get the names and contact information of any eyewitnesses to the crash.
- Report the incident to your insurer: All insurance carriers require that you report an accident fairly quickly after an incident occurs. You should do so, but only relay basic information. Tell your insurance carrier an accident occurred, where it happened, and who was involved. You do not have to go into detail about your injuries when you make your initial report.
- Be wary of claims adjusters: You will likely get phone calls from insurance claims adjusters regarding this case. You are under no obligation to give a recorded statement, and you are always free to say, “I’m working with a lawyer, and they will contact you.” Insurance claims adjusters have one goal – to minimize the amount of money they pay you in a settlement.
Secure an attorney as soon as possible
If you suspect the careless or negligence of the truck driver or trucking company caused the accident, you should seek assistance from an injury attorney as soon as possible. A trucking company and its insurance carrier will have vast resources at their disposal to limit the amount of compensation they payout for a claim. By seeking assistance from an attorney, you will be leveling the playing field. A skilled Tennessee truck accident attorney will have the resources and experience necessary to ensure you are treated fairly by properly investigating your case and negotiating for a fair settlement on your behalf.
You should speak to an attorney soon after an accident occurs so they can help you from the very beginning of your case.
What kind of compensation is available for these cases?
There are various types of compensation available for victims of truck accident cases in Tennessee. While the amount of compensation will differ based on various factors, the following types of compensation are commonly recovered by truck accident victims:
- Coverage of past, current, and future medical expenses related to the truck accident
- Recovery of lost wages if you are unable to work while a victim recovers
- Pain and suffering damages
- Loss of enjoyment of life damages
- Possible punitive damages against a negligent truck driver or trucking company