If you’ve been involved in a semi-truck accident, there are several steps you can take that could increase the viability of your case, such as calling the police and seeking medical treatment.
The aftermath of a semi-truck accident can be complicated, but it doesn’t need to be. You could simplify your case by following these steps.
Seek Medical Attention After A Semi-Truck Accident
After a semi-truck accident, seeking medical attention should be your number one priority for two reasons:
- Provides a precise diagnosis: Sometimes, semi-truck accident injuries don’t manifest themselves for weeks or even months after a crash. You can identify your injuries and build a treatment plan by speaking with a doctor. The sooner you address your injuries, the better.
- Documents your injuries: Documentation is everything after a semi-truck accident. Medical treatment will produce verifiable records. These records can be used during insurance claims or lawsuits to prove that you were injured. If you don’t have medical records proving your injuries, insurers may argue that you weren’t injured and refuse to offer you compensation.
You need to stick with the treatment plan your doctor provides you. Skipping medical appointments and slacking off on treatment can indicate to insurers that you weren’t injured.
Gather Semi-Truck Accident Evidence
Your medical records are the first piece of essential evidence. However, there are several other types of evidence you should try to gather, including:
- Contact information for parties involved in your accident
- Contact information for witnesses of the accident
- Images of the crash scene
- Videos from the crash scene
- Recorded statements about the accident
- Medical records
- Receipts of your post-accident expenses
Gathering these forms of evidence after a semi-truck accident can prove overwhelming, particularly if you suffered a serious injury. To reduce your workload, you can hire a semi-truck accident lawyer to manage your case.
Notify Local Law Enforcement About The Semi-Truck Accident
Florida Statutes § 316.066 requires that accidents involving the following must be reported to the police:
- Death or personal injury
- Damages to a vehicle that made it inoperable
- Commercial vehicles, like a semi-truck
While police typically arrive at the scene of a serious semi-truck accident, it’s possible that your accident is still unreported. If law enforcement is unaware of the accident, you have ten days to notify authorities.
This notification procedure is mandatory. However, it could also benefit your pursuit of compensation. After a serious semi-truck accident, law enforcement will generate a police report. These reports can be used as evidence during an insurance claim or lawsuit and contain the following information:
- The names of the respective insurance companies for the parties involved in the crash
- Names and contact information of those involved in the crash
- The name and badge number of the officer that arrived at the scene of the crash
- The date, time, and location of the crash
Consider Working With A Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer
Managing the aftermath of a semi-truck accident alone can be daunting. A lawyer can provide you peace of mind by providing the following services:
- Contacting and negotiating with insurers
- Handling all communications associated with your case
- Gathering relevant evidence and building your case
- Pursuing fair compensation
- Answering questions you have about your accident
- Providing consistent case updates
- Filing a lawsuit if needed
After a semi-truck accident, insurers often play hardball. Remember, insurance companies aren’t charity organizations. They’ll try to reduce your settlement offer to keep their costs low.
An experienced semi-truck accident lawyer can stand up to insurers and protect your best interests. You shouldn’t have to handle insurance companies while you’re recovering from a serious injury.
Compensation Lawyers Can Pursue
Compensation in semi-truck accident cases is broken up into defined categories called damages. The damages you’re eligible for will depend on the specifics of your case. For example, if you haven’t suffered a “serious” injury, you can only on your own personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. This type of insurance will cover 80% of your medical expenses with a standard $10,000 limit.
However, if you’ve suffered a “serious injury”, a lawyer could fight for a full suite of damages on your behalf, which includes:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Vehicle repairs
- Lowered earning capacity
- Mental anguish
- Pain and suffering
What Qualifies As A Serious Injury?
Florida Statutes § 627.737 defines the following examples as “serious” injuries:
- Significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function.
- Permanent injury within a reasonable degree of medical probability, other than scarring or disfigurement.
- Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement.
- Death
If you’ve experienced any of these injuries, you can pursue compensation beyond your PIP limit by:
- Filing a liability claim against the driver or trucking company responsible for your injuries
- Filing a lawsuit against the driver or trucking company responsible for your injuries
Determining if you’ve suffered a “serious” injury on your own can be difficult. If you’re unsure if you qualify for additional compensation, a semi-truck accident lawyer can help. They can evaluate your case and determine which damages you are eligible for.
Work With A Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer Today
At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, our legal team is here for those in need. We can represent you and take the fight to insurers after a semi-truck accident. Contact our offices for a free case evaluation today.
