Truck Accidents

What to do After a Truck Accident

What you do immediately after being involved in a truck accident can impact your case.

Safety First! 

If you are not seriously injured and can move about, check on the condition of everyone else involved in the crash. Call for medical assistance and report the crash to law enforcement. Remain at the scene and communicate with first responders if possible.

Act Fast.

The trucking companies are always ready to protect their interests. We are here to preserve and protect your interests. Collecting, analyzing, and preserving evidence critical to your case is best done immediately after a collision while evidence remains intact and witness recall of the event is fresh.

Work Together.

• Collect as much information about the crash as possible such as photos of the vehicles involved, weather conditions at the time of the accident, license plate numbers, and contact information for witnesses.
• Document valuable evidence related to the commercial truck, including taking pictures of any visible damage or defects and the markings on the side of a shipping container or semi-trailer. 
• Preserve other necessary information, such as recording the truck’s registration papers, insurance coverage, and details about who was operating or maintaining the vehicle.

Remember, while it might be tempting, don’t discuss the details of your injuries publicly, including on social media. And never talk to another party’s lawyers or insurance company without a lawyer.

The Truck Accident Investigation

Our investigation of the truck accident shapes the foundation of your claim. It is a meticulous and exhaustive process that determines all potential sources of liability, including some that may not be obvious to law enforcement and other investigating parties.  

Crash Scene 

• Layout of the crash scene and reconstruction of the crash.
• Document, collect, and analyze debris from the crash scene.
• Measure and document any markings on the road at the accident site.

Driver

• Determine if driver fatigue caused or contributed to the crash.
• Determine if the driver was distracted by smartphone use or other activity.
• Determine if the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Record any statements the driver made about the case.
• Examine the driver’s record for safety violations.
• Examine the driver’s background for any history of criminal behavior.

Truck 

• Obtain and analyze data from the truck’s “black box,” such as speed, acceleration, braking, steering angle, engine RPMs, and other information that may be available through the device.
• Obtain and analyze the truck’s GPS data.
• Review video footage from the dash and cabin view cameras and any nearby street cameras.
• Pull all available data maintained by onboard and offboard monitoring technology.
• Closely analyze the truck for signs of any defective components that may have played a role in the crash, such as:
  • The truck’s age, make, and model.
  • The truck’s condition.
  • Maintenance records.
  • Information about the truck’s load, such as content, weight, orientation and distribution.
  • The truck’s Department of Transportation (DOT) number and any markings on the truck and its trailer.

Trucking Company and Owner

We often find important clues about the causes of a crash when investigating a trucking company. Such findings may increase the defendant’s liability and the amount of damages you can collect. Our investigations generally cover the following:

• Accident History & Safety Violations – we research federal and state registries for the driver’s accident history and compliance with safety regulations. These include their drivers’ hours-of-service records, drug and alcohol testing, traffic citations, vehicle inspections, maintenance standards, and driver qualifications.
• Company Culture – we examine company culture that incentivizes speeding and other poor driving habits and puts performance goals ahead of safety.
• Driver Screening & Training Protocols – we assess the practices and procedures a trucking company implements to ensure drivers are safe, skilled, and knowledgeable.
• Driver Monitoring – we evaluate a company’s policies and procedures regarding driver monitoring systems and programs.

What Compensation Can I Seek After a Truck Accident?

We understand how critical compensation is to you and that it touches every aspect of your life. 

We are devoted to making you whole and securing the maximum possible recovery under the law. Our truck accident lawyers will work closely with you to determine the amount of compensation you can seek for the damages you and your family suffer. 

Truck crash victims and their families are entitled to economic, non-economic, and sometimes punitive damages.

Economic Damages 

Economic damages can be thought of as compensation that can help restore you and your family’s physical condition to the fullest possible extent and recover losses caused by the crash. These damages are relatively easy to calculate and prove, including:

• Hospital and medical bills.
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy expenses.
• Lost income.
• Lost earning capacity.
• Vehicle and other property damage.
• Lost household services. 

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are more difficult to quantify in terms of dollars, but they are just as real. These injuries can be equally or more debilitating than physical injuries but harder to prove. Non-economic damages resulting from a truck accident can include: 

• Emotional distress.
• Mental anguish and trauma.
• Loss of enjoyment of life.
• Loss of consortium.
• Diminished quality of life.
• Scarring and disfigurement.

Punitive Damages 

Punitive damages are meant to “punish” the defendant. When substantial enough, they can discourage the defendant from operating in ways that caused the accident and prompt policy changes. 

Punitive damages are usually only possible in cases where we prove a trucking company acted with gross negligence or intentional misconduct. For instance, if the trucking company has a history of repeated violations or knowingly fails to adhere to critical safety regulations, it may be ordered to pay punitive damages.

Truck Accident Injuries 

Every experienced truck accident lawyer has seen first-hand the pain and tragedy that truck accidents cause. Given their size and weight, tractor-trailers and other large commercial vehicles typically cause greater damage and more severe injuries when they collide with smaller passenger vehicles. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration estimates that between 140,000-150,000, people are injured in accidents involving commercial vehicles every year in the U.S. Many of these injuries are debilitating and lead to lifelong hardship for survivors and their families. 

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