Five Things to Do After a Hampton Roads Truck Crash
Fatal and serious trucking crashes are on the rise across the country. A perfect storm of an improved economy and the failure of the federal government to implement safety measures means more serious big rig wrecks. Virginia is no exception. If you or a loved one was hurt in a trucking accident, you should act fast. Here are five things to do after a Hampton Roads truck crash.
The stakes in any car, truck or motorcycle crash are high. What you say and do in the moments after a wreck can have a bearing on a subsequent case. If a commercial vehicle is involved in a crash, the trucking company’s lawyers and insurers will move quickly to secure evidence and conceal the truck driver’s blame for the wreck. You should always hire a Hampton Roads truck accident lawyer as soon as possible in these cases.
You may suffer serious injuries in a Hampton Road trucking crash. What you can or cannot do at the accident scene is dependent on the extent of your injuries. If you are able to move around and use a cell phone, make sure to take the following steps.
- Call the police: Even if you are unsure about injuries or damage, call the police after a big rig wreck. Pain may not set in immediately if you are in shock and property damage is not always apparent at the accident scene. Never lie to a police officer nor admit blame for an accident. Give a factual report about what happened. Don’t speculate on the cause of the accident or blame.
Collect evidence after a Hampton Roads Truck Crash
What to do after a Hampton Roads truck crash - Get treated for your injuries: One of the most serious mistakes truck accident victims make is to delay medical treatment. Not only can medical complications ensue, but the insurance company for the trucking company may claim your injuries were not serious because you waited to be treated. A sense of urgency will help your care and a medical professional will accurately evaluate your injuries. The impact from a trucking accident is often severe. Drivers may sustain mild or traumatic brain injuries without realizing it. Your doctor will be looking for the signs of a brain injury. Your injury lawyer can work with your doctor to determine a monetary amount that it will take to the trucking company’s insurance company.
- Get vital information about the trucker at the scene: You may be disorientated after a Hampton Roads trucking crash. You may be in a state of shock. Gathering evidence is one of the last things you want to do. However, this evidence can prove crucial in a lawsuit. Take photographs of all damaged vehicles at the scene, including your own, as well as injuries. Talk to witnesses and obtain their contact details. Conduct videos of witnesses on your smartphone, if possible. Obtain all the information you can from the truck driver and note details of the truck itself. The information you collect should include the following.
- The name of the truck driver;
- His or her contact Information;
- The license plate number;
- The name of the trucking company;
- The driver’s Insurance Information;
- The truck driver’s license number;
- The load that was hauled.
- Never sign anything from the trucking company OR its insurance carrier: Trucking companies are aware they will likely face a big payout if a driver was at fault for an accident with serious injuries in Hampton Roads or elsewhere. The trucking company’s insurance provider may contact you directly and minimize the seriousness of an accident. Never sign anything without talking to a lawyer first. You may sign away your rights. Don’t jump at the first settlement offered. You do not have to give a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurance company and you should not. This evidence may be used against you in a trucking accident lawsuit.
- Hire a trucking accident injury attorney No matter how serious your injuries you should have your case evaluated by an experienced Virginia trucking accident lawyer. There is no fee for a consultation and no obligation to hire the attorney. Our personal injury lawyers do not take payment unless and until they make a successful recovery. You never pay anything up front. We are here to protect you and your family members and to help you in every stage of the fraught legal process.
Filing a lawsuit against a trucking company can be intimidating. You should not handle cases of this nature on your own. Call Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers today after a Hampton Roads truck crash or a semi-truck crash elsewhere in Virginia or North Carolina at (757) 455-0077.
