The first and most important thing is to hire an experienced 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyers as soon as possible after the accident. Fighting large trucking companies is something you will need the experience to do.
These companies have vast resources, including teams of lawyers and experts more than prepared to fight against any lawsuit that comes their way. Having a truck injury lawyer by your side gives you the peace of mind needed to help you recover.
An experienced truck accident lawyer will get the evidence needed to prove your truck accident claim, negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, represent your interests in the courtroom, and make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
6 Protect Best 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyers
But there are steps you can follow after an accident with an 18-wheeler to help protect your future truck accident claim:
- At the accident scene, remain calm and stay in your vehicle unless you need to get out for safety reasons. Call 911 and do not leave the scene.
- Record all the names, addresses, and phone numbers of any parties involved, particularly any witnesses. You will also want to write down the names and badge numbers of any police officers investigating the accident.
- Photograph and take a video of the scene, including vehicles and injuries. Make sure you get the truck driver’s employer information.
- Seek medical attention, even if you don’t think you were injured at the time of the accident. Many times, injuries don’t present themselves until hours or days after the accident.
- Immediately notify your own insurance company after the accident so the claim process can start. When speaking with your insurance company, just stick to the facts of the case and do not admit fault.
- Do not discuss the accident with anyone except the police or your own insurance agent; you are not required to give a statement to anyone but the police and your insurance company.
Frequent Causes of 18 Wheeler Lawyer
In over thirty years of handling trucking cases, we see a clear and present danger on our roadways. Routinely, tractor-trailers dangerously carry loads, they’re accidents waiting to happen.
Most are clearly avoidable, Such was the case when we represented a family whose son was killed and the father’s leg amputated due to the negligence of three defendants who could have avoided the accident through simple testing and education.
11 cause of truck accidents
Unfortunately, despite their ability to cause major damage to other motorists, there are a variety of unsafe practices that can and have led to trucking accidents in Illinois or across the United States, including:
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Sleep-deprived truck drivers
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Truck drivers driving under the influence
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Overloaded or mishandled cargo
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Rear-end accidents
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Accidents at intersections
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Left-hand-turn collisions
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Head-on collisions
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Jackknifes
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Trucking rollovers
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Driving too fast for poor road conditions
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Poor maintenance on the vehicle
These experiences have helped us recover millions of dollars in settlements in commercial vehicle accidents and collisions for our clients.
Legislation to come as close as we can through written rules, and litigation to punish those who do not exercise due care.
Why Do I Need to Hire a Top Truck Crash Lawyer?
Personal Injury Lawyers in a roomIf you or someone you love suffered a collision involving an 18-wheeled truck, you may know that you did nothing wrong, believe that your injuries and costs that the accident caused are obvious, and be wondering why you would need a lawyer to represent you.
A truck crash is not the same as a car accident. Many times, 18 wheeler accidents can result in severe injuries that could take months or years to recover from. And while car accidents only involve you and the other driver, trucking accidents can have multiple parties involved.