There can be few things as terrifying as casually driving along, minding your own business and obeying traffic laws, and suddenly out of the blue becoming involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler. It is jarring on many levels. On the one hand 18-wheelers are huge and intimidating, and on the other hand a sudden collision is always frightening and potentially dangerous or even lethal. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do to take away the emotional trauma; however, at this point it is imperative that you protect your legal rights.
A collision with an 18-wheeler can be extremely damaging to your car, as well as to yourself and the other occupants of your vehicle. It is essential that you follow the proper steps to ensure that you can receive the compensation you deserve for physical and property damage that you sustain as a result of the accident. The first thing to do if you and the truck driver are in a coherent, stable state is to exchange basic information. This includes your full names, phone numbers, addresses, make and model of the vehicles, license plate numbers, and insurance information. It is also important to get the names of the people the vehicles are registered to if that is not the same as the drivers. In addition you will want to record the company information of the truck driver.
The next step is to make sure that a police report is properly filed. If the police are not already on the scene by this time, make sure that someone calls them. You will want to make sure to record the police officers names and badge numbers and also make sure that they have an accurate report of all the information in terms of how the accident occurred, who hit whom, what direction the vehicles were traveling in, and the condition of the roadway and environment.
At this stage you should also document everything with photographs to the greatest extent possible. Take pictures of all the vehicles involved, skid marks on the road, and the scene as a whole. In addition to this it is important to be examined by a medical professional. Even if you feel like you are okay you may have sustained injuries which will not be immediately apparent and you need to be examined to ensure your health and safety. If you or the other passengers of your vehicle have been injured then it is important that they receive the medical attention that they need and that everything is carefully documented. That includes saving all medical receipts and bills.
Make sure that your insurance company is also informed about the incident. This is imperative to ensure that you receive the insurance claim that you are entitled to. Contact your insurance representative as soon as you can and find out what documents and information they require. Make sure to comply with their requests and cooperate with any investigations that they begin.
Ultimately traffic laws can be very complex and the unfortunate reality is that many companies will try to avoid paying you the compensation that you deserve. That is where Dugas Law Firm can help you. You should not have to suffer the medical expenses, loss of wages, property damage, and emotional pain and suffering without any recompense from those responsible. Contact us for a consolation so that we can help you get the justice you deserve.