Five Steps to Take If You’ve Been Involved in an Accident with a Commercial Vehicle
Posted on Jan 15, 2021 in Personal Injury, Truck Accidents
Whether you’ve been involved in an accident with a truck or a delivery driver, it is often more challenging to determine who to sue for your injuries when there’s a collision with a commercial vehicle. The driver may be at fault for the accident, but if he works for a company, then it may be the company that will be held liable for the accident. If you’re confused about how you might initiate a lawsuit and against whom, you should contact an experienced New Orleans truck accident law firm to take your case on. Your attorney can ensure you receive the compensation you’re entitled to after sustaining injuries. After an accident with a commercial vehicle, you may be wondering what you should do. Below, we review some of the immediate steps to take after an accident.Care for Your Injuries
Getting into an accident with a commercial vehicle can be a serious or even catastrophic injury. Immediately following an accident, you must first take care of your injuries and make sure you are okay. If you are conscious and able, call an ambulance immediately, and if this presents a challenge, do your best to flag down a driver to do so for you. If the injuries you’ve sustained aren’t very severe, make sure you still seek medical attention and monitor your health in the coming days. Some injuries will have a delayed onset, and it’s important to catch any complications before they become worse.Call the Police
Once your injuries are being treated, you should summon law enforcement to the scene to investigate the case. The responding police officer will proceed to gather important information, including your and the other driver’s contact and insurance information, photos of the damage, an account of what happened from witnesses and each driver involved, and a study of the accident itself to try and determine what may have caused the accident. Be sure to get a copy of the officer’s report, as it will be needed for your New Orleans truck accident attorney to pursue your case later.Contact a New Orleans Truck Accident Attorney to Assist With Investigating Your Claim
If you’re able to, you should plan to complement the police officer’s efforts in documenting what happened by taking some photos and statements of your own. Be sure to obtain contact information from the other driver and any witnesses who may have seen the accident occur. Take pictures of the accident scene and be sure to inspect your vehicle for damages, taking images of each thing you see.Be Careful with Your Words
After an accident, you want to answer the officer’s questions truthfully, but try to avoid saying more than necessary. Don’t post pictures on social media or say anything about the accident, and refrain from arguing with the other driver about what happened. Trust that the officer and your attorney will figure out what happened and argue on your behalf.Hire a New Orleans Truck Accident Law Firm Today
After an accident with a commercial vehicle, the last thing you want to do is try and navigate the resulting lawsuit yourself. Especially when you’re going up against a corporation, you will want to make sure you have someone experienced on your side. Contact a New Orleans truck accident attorney today to learn how they can support you. We can be reached online, or you can call 504-599-9997 for a free consultation.