subject: Being Hit By A Truck Can Be A Devastating Experience [print this page] Being Hit By A Truck Can Be A Devastating Experience
Being in involved in an accident can be a scary experience to just about anyone, but when you are hit my a truck, especially a big rig, the potential for serious injury and even death can be down right horrific not to mention devastating to everyone involved in the accident.
In an effort to protect the safety of motorists and the general public, the Federal Department of Transportation has regulations, and guidelines that govern safe operation of commercial trucks, safety requirements, and even speed limits, but even taking all of this into account, truck and big rig accidents still happen on city streets, roads and along Interstate highways.
Should you be injured in a commercial trucking accident, no matter how minor you may think the collision has been you should call the local police, call your state highway patrol and report the accident and request that an officer come to the scene to take an accident report. Doing this will undoubtedly save the personal injury lawyer you hire valuable time by having the name of the trucking company who owns the vehicle and their insurance company when preparing your accident insurance claim.
In the event of a serious accident with a truck involving yourself or multiple vehicles, the most important things to remembers are:
Remain calm and call 911 immediately
Get off of the road to a safe place until the police and other emergency personnel arrived
Check to make sure everyone who was involved in the accident is safe
If you are able begin making notes of the events leading up to accident and everything that happened during and after the collision
Get the names of all parties involved in the trucking accident including phone numbers, vehicle descriptions, drivers license, license plate numbers, and insurance information.
While the police are on the scene, they will conduct an investigation and will want to take a statement from you. You should give them your account of the events of the truck accident, but never speak with insurance claims adjusters, or non-police accident investigators, or sign anything until you have spoken with a trucking accident attorney.
You should then go to the emergency center of the local hospital and have a doctor examine you even of you don't believe you have been injured, because serious neck, back and muscle injuries can take many days to surface and without immediate treatment could become far worse.
Once you have been released from the hospital you should hire a qualified and experienced commercial truck accident lawyer to handle your insurance claim and accident case to ensure your rights are protected and you receive a fair and adequate settlement for your medical bills, damagers to your car and compensation for your pain and suffering.
