A truck accident can be a life-altering event. The steps you take immediately following a collision cannot only protect your future, but they can also significantly set you up for success when it comes to claiming compensation. Before you hit the road again, take time to learn these truck accident lawyer insights for the first 5 things you must do immediately following a big-rig accident in Houston to ensure your safety on the road.
After a serious truck accident, adrenaline rushes can be common and can also make it highly difficult to know what to do or not to do during a high-stress moment. Aside from just the adrenaline rush itself, truck accidents can be frightening, confusing, and painful, depending on the severity. By learning the key steps to follow and working with an expert truck accident lawyer in Houston, like our team at Maida Law Firm, you can equip yourself with confidence even when disaster strikes on the road.
Step 1: Prioritizing Your Safety On The Road and Calling for Help After a Truck Accident
In the chaotic minutes following a truck accident, the most important thing is to make sure you and your passengers are safe. Checking for injuries immediately is vital, along with making sure to carefully note anything caused by the accident – regardless of how small it seems. When adrenaline is flowing, you may not feel pain the same way you would if you were relaxed.
Once you have taken into account all injuries and carefully noted them, you need to move to a safe location. If your car can move, move it to the side of the road and remain in the vehicle with your hazards on if it’s safe to do so. Most safety professionals also recommend that you keep your seatbelt on, especially in the case of pile-ups, as more cars can easily enter the scene and cause more injury.
Once you and your vehicle are in a safe location, it is always a good idea to call the police and report the incident. Not only can it help get first responders on the scene, but it can also provide an official, third-party report of the accident that can majorly help your truck accident lawyer win your case down the line.
Step 2: Gathering Critical Information For Your Truck Accident Lawyer
After ensuring that the police have been notified, the next major step is gathering vital information for the case. This information can serve as vital elements of your truck accident lawyer’s case for your compensation trial. The more information you can gather before you leave the scene, the stronger your case will be. Oftentimes, in commercial truck company injury cases, this is crucial as they are notorious for having robust legal teams trained specifically to shift the blame of the semi-truck accident.
The most important pieces of information to gather on the scene include:
- Truck driver information: While this may seem obvious, sometimes this can be the first thing many drivers forget to do when faced with stress and fear. Make sure to get all drivers’ names, phone numbers, license numbers, and trucking company information. Try to also make note of the fleet number on the side of the truck or trailer, as well as the license plate numbers.
- Photos of the scene: This can be a true game-changer when it comes to how your truck accident lawyer will strategize for your case. Be sure to get close-up, clear, and unedited photos of all damage to the involved vehicles, photos of the entire scene, and photos of any signage or traffic signals present on the scene. Additionally, try to collect a diverse variety of angles to ensure the most clarity for judges.
- Witness information: If there were any witnesses present, don’t forget to take down their name and phone number. For most truck accident claims, these can be a vital piece of the puzzle by providing unbiased, third-party accounts of how the accident took place.
Step 3: Why Your Lawyer Recommends Immediate Medical Attention After a Big Rig Accident
Even if you’ve managed to escape the truck accident unscathed, the high levels of adrenaline could very well be masking serious injuries caused by the impact. The most important step for many truck accident cases is getting professional, officially documented accounts of your injuries after the event. This is not only vital for protecting your personal health and safety, but it can also serve as critical evidence within your truck accident attorney’s case. By having a medical professional sign off on any injuries, you can gain a direct link between the crash and your injuries, making it far easier to prove neglect and liability for the big rig company.
Even if you feel fine, seeing a doctor can make a huge difference, not just to your truck accident case, but also for your long-term health. Some of the most common injuries after a serious semi-truck accident, such as whiplash, internal bleeding, and head trauma, often take hours or days to set in. When it comes to winning your case with Maida Law Firm, the best thing you can do is receive as many officially documented records as possible, including meticulous data about your injuries following
Step 4: Heed Your Lawyer’s Warning: Avoid Speaking to the Adjuster following Your Semi Truck Accident
After a semi-truck accident occurs, your insurance adjuster will probably call you. While it may seem like their intentions are to check in on you following a potentially traumatic event, the truth is that they do not have your best interests in mind. In order to protect yourself from rapidly increasing rates, your truck accident lawyers will recommend that you avoid all communication; instead, let us take the wheel to ensure you get the most cost-effective deal moving forward.
A great thing to remember is that you can simply say, “I am waiting for my legal counsel to advise me on this matter, I will have them handle communication moving forward”. Although it may seem simple, lines can easily become blurred after an accident, making a reputable truck accident lawyer in Houston a non-negotiable.
Step 5: Why a Truck Accident Lawyer in Texas is Important for Securing Your Future
Now that you’ve gathered your on-scene documentation, visited the doctor, and fielded any adjuster calls – the next, and most important step, is contacting Maida Law Firm’s team of seasoned truck accident lawyers. By working with our team, you can sleep peacefully knowing that we are not just your powerful advocate for your truck accident case, but we also do not charge you a penny if you don’t win your case. This makes us a cost-effective, reliable team player for you and your case.
Truck accident cases in Houston can be complex, requiring years of experience navigating the regulations, stipulations, and loopholes that make commercial trucking companies such difficult competitors. Big Rig accidents are not just stressful; they can take away your confidence on the road and your health. Because of this, we constantly strive to get our clients the maximum compensation for their cases.
If you find yourself in a big rig accident, don’t forget to follow these 5 simple steps and contact us to get in contact with a Houston truck accident lawyer.