Surviving an 18 wheeler crash is nothing short of miraculous.
But it also comes with huge medical bills. And if you’re like most people, you don’t have money lying around to pay them. What you need is a personal injury lawyer to help you get the money that you deserve.
Keep reading to find out exactly what you need to do after you’ve been in an accident involving an 18 wheeler truck.
What to Do at the Scene of the 18 Wheeler Crash
Your chances of successfully winning a settlement or court trial go up if you’ve done the following at the scene of the accident right after calling the police.
- Write down the facts, including weather conditions, time of the accident, the speed at which you were going, and anything else that may be relevant.
- Get photographs of all vehicles involved and the surrounding scene.
- Gather contact information of witnesses and get permission to contact them in the future if necessary to testify on your behalf.
What to Do after the Accident
Even if you weren’t seriously injured in the accident, you still need to go to the hospital to be evaluated. Sometimes, symptoms can be delayed. However, for the sake of winning your case, you need to at least have it documented that you sought medical treatment immediately after the accident.
You should also contact one of our personal injury lawyers as soon as possible. Don’t wait any longer than necessary. It’s always easier to get police records and information from witnesses shortly after the incident.
How to Prepare for the Lawsuit
Every case is different, which is why it’s so important to work with a lawyer. We understand the laws and regulations involving 18 wheeler trucks that are designed to prevent accidents from happening.
To prepare for the lawsuit, just let us do our job and answer all of our questions to the best of your ability. We’ll do the rest.
A huge part of our job is checking to see if the driver of the 18 wheeler was breaking any laws or regulations that may have led to the accident. In many situations, this is the case which helps you win your case.
Possible Outcomes of 18 Wheeler Crash Lawsuits
There are three main outcomes of an 18 wheeler crash lawsuit. Understanding these will help you know what to expect as we move through the process with you.
Settlement
A settlement is when the truck driver, trucking company, or insurance company makes a deal with you to avoid going to court. This is the fastest way to get compensation for your accident and will guarantee that you get the amount that you agree upon.
Win the Trial
If they refuse to settle, the case will end up going to trial. If the judge and jury find the other party guilty, they will award you with an amount that could be more or less than the settlement offer.
Lose the Trial
If the judge and jury don’t find the other party at fault, you will lose the trial and will not get any compensation. However, this rarely happens because we always make sure our clients have a solid case before even starting the lawsuit process.
Get More Information
Accidents involving 18 wheeler trucks result in devastating consequences. Your injuries are likely extensive and expensive. As you can see, there are some things that you can do to give yourself the best chance of winning a case after being in a truck accident.
If you want more information about whether or not you can sue as a result of an 18 wheeler crash, then contact us today for a free consultation.