Five Mistakes to Avoid After an 18-Wheeler Accident
An accident with an 18-wheeler truck will leave you feeling very overwhelmed. You will likely sustain very serious injuries, have to miss time from work, and you will feel many emotions. You may also not know what steps to take next, or what things you should avoid doing. You may end up doing things that can greatly hurt your case. Below, our San Antonio 18-wheeler lawyer outlines the five biggest mistakes to avoid.
Not Seeking Medical Treatment
Seeking medical treatment is critical after any truck accident. You likely will not escape from a truck accident without sustaining any injuries and you need to make sure that they do not become worse. A doctor can also examine you and check for injuries you may not realize you have suffered. Seeking medical treatment will also document your injuries. This is important for later in your case, as the insurer may try to argue that your injuries are not as severe as you claimed or were not caused by the truck accident.
Failing to Call the Police
Any accident with an 18-wheeler will result in serious injuries, possible fatalities, and severe property damage. Under these circumstances, you are required by law to report the crash to police. Police will visit the scene and write and file a report based on their observations. They may also indicate in their report who they believe caused the accident. This can help prove your case in the future.
Not Exchanging Important Information
It is only natural to feel shaken up after a crash involving an 18-wheeler. Still, you should try to maintain your composure so you can obtain important information from the other drivers involved. If you are too injured to collect this information, you can ask the police or a witness to the crash to do it for you. The information you should collect includes:
- Names and contact information of all drivers involved in the crash,
- The name of the trucking company,
- All license plate numbers and the DOT number on the truck,
- Insurance and driver’s license information for all motorists involved; and
- Names and contact information of all witnesses (police officers rarely include this information in police reports – don’t rely on them to obtain or save this information).
Additionally, you should also take pictures of your injuries, the property damage of all vehicles involved (not just your own), and any other evidence, such as a fallen bumper from your vehicle.
Speaking Openly About the Crash
Anything you say about the accident can and will be used against you during your case. For this reason, you should say as little as possible about the accident. If you have trusted people in your life, such as your spouse, you can talk about your accident. You should never speak about the crash on social media, regardless of who you are speaking to or how tight your privacy settings are. In many cases, it is recommended that the only person you talk about the accident with is your lawyer.
Our 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer in San Antonio is Here for You
As soon as you seek medical treatment, you should contact a San Antonio 18-wheeler accident lawyer. At the Law Office of Israel Garcia, our experienced attorney can provide the legal advice you need and help you through the process so you obtain the maximum compensation you are entitled to. Call us now at 210-LAW-9999 or contact us online to request a free consultation.
Sources:
statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.550.htm
uscomplianceservices.org/what-is-a-dot-number/
