truck accident

Accidents in the trucking industry often result in much damage, and even loss of life.

When you are involved in a car accident with a semi-truck that wasn’t your fault, you likely have many questions regarding what you should do next. The actions you take in the moments following the accident are crucial to ensuring you get properly compensated for all the damages you’ve suffered.

Here are 5 things any car accident victim should do after a semi-truck accident:

1. Call the Police

By calling the police, you are creating a 3rd party recollection of the events that took place. The police will come to the scene, document it, and create their own report, which you can use later on in your car accident claim. When you and the insurance company can have different views over a particular detail of the case, the answer may be found in the police report.

2. Document the Scene Yourself

Then, if you are able to, you should document the scene as best as you can, by taking a lot of photos on your smartphone. Consider taking pictures of:

• Your vehicle
• The semi-truck
• Any witnesses present
• Your own injuries (if they are visible)
• Marks on the road
• Damaged property

A lot of the evidence is time-sensitive, such as tire marks on the road. They may not be there a few weeks or days later when you want to document the scene. By taking these photos, you are already building a case.

3. Exchange Insurance Information

The police report will also have the name of the semi-truck driver, though you should still exchange insurance information with them. This will make it easier for you when you want to file the car accident claim since you’ll already have the company’s contact information on hand.

4. Go to the Hospital – Even If You Feel Fine

Car accident victims don’t always feel the full repercussions of a car accident right after the event. Some injuries, such as whiplash, may only start to show symptoms the next or a few days after the car accident.

Apart from the fact that this can hurt your claim, it’s also dangerous. As a rule of thumb, always go to the doctor right after a car accident, even mild ones.

5. Contact a Lawyer

It’s likely that in these cases to go up against the insurance company of the trucking company, and not the driver. This can create certain difficulties for the victim, especially if they want to sue the company for damages, as opposed to going the insurance route.

To make things easier for you, you should speak with an experienced car accident attorney for help. They can advise the best course of action based on the specifics of your case.

Each car accident is unique. When you add a semi-truck into the equation things get increasingly complicated.

Although large trucks are responsible for just a small fraction of car accidents, the damage and harm they cause are often extensive.

If you’ve been involved in a crash with a semi-truck and got injured, then you will need the help of a good St. Louis auto accident attorney. The process of filing a claim may be different than in a regular car wreck and you need someone who can guide your steps.

The Insurance Company Will Do Anything to Get out of Paying

Because the damage a large truck can inflict is so extensive, most trucking companies carry insurance that can be worth 50 times more than the policy on a passenger vehicle. Such a claim can be worth millions of dollars, which is why the company will do anything to avoid paying it. If they can prove that you share at least part of the blame, then they will significantly lower the amount or deny the claim altogether. Another common strategy is offering a seemingly high settlement to distract the victim from the real value of their claim. An experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer can educate you on all these tactics and teach how to avoid making any costly mistakes.

The Amount of Information You Need to Gather Is Extensive

One of the first things you need to do after a car crash is gather as much information as possible. That includes the at-fault party’s driving license and contact details, the name and phone numbers of witnesses, a copy of the police report, and so on. The same stays true in the case of a collision with a semi-truck accident, the only difference being that the amount of information you need to collect is significantly higher. For instance, you may also need to get copies of their GPS data, electronic logbook, driving history, and any record of safety and maintenance violations. All these details will help you build a strong case and combat any dirty tactics that the insurance company may try using.

They Cause Serious Injuries That Require Extensive Medical Care

A fully loaded commercial truck can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. And, when a vehicle this size goes up against a 3,000-pound car, it’s easy to understand how the damage it causes can be devastating.

Because the injuries resulting from a semi-truck accident are more serious than the ones sustained in a regular car crash, the medical treatment will also be more extensive. That often means in-depth tests, longer hospital stays, more days missed from work, more time needed to recover, and so on. All that can turn into a financial burden if you’ve lost your job and don’t have the means to pay for the piling medical bills.

An auto accident lawyer can help you estimate the cost of present and future damages and ensure that you will receive the compensation you are legally entitled to.

St. Louis Injury Lawyer

Semi-truck accidents are often complex. However, with an experienced lawyer on your side, you maximize your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve.  Give us a call 24/7 at (314) 361-4242 for a FREE case evaluation.

Even with federal laws in place, you may still find a driver with poor health behind the wheel of a truck.

Trucks drivers often need to exert more caution on the road than drivers of passenger vehicles. Tt all has to do with the size of the truck.

Because a truck so large, it’s also a lot more difficult to handle – a truck needs a lot of extra space to perform certain actions like turning, and it has about 4 blind spots passenger car driver should always avoid. However, truck accidents do happen, and when they involve a truck, the impact often leaves extreme consequences.

It’s not an exaggeration to say then that if a truck driver isn’t 100% focused when they are behind the wheel, then everyone on the road is in danger. One instance where a truck driver wouldn’t be totally focused on the road would be if their health wouldn’t allow for it.

How a Driver’s Health Is Relevant

Because they are operating such heavy vehicles, federal law imposes certain regulations on how the truck driver must behave on the road. Drivers are also required to be examined by a physician who will determine if the driver is fit for this activity or not.

Some health issues should automatically stop the truck driver from getting cleared to operate the truck:

• Hearing issues – it’s vital to be completely aware of your surroundings when driving a truck, and even partial loss of hearing affects that;

• Vision issues – because trucks are harder to manipulate, the driver must have good eyesight;

• High blood pressure – high blood pressure typically means a person is at a higher risk of having a heart attack. If the heart attack happens while behind the wheel, the driver would likely lose control of the truck;

• Diabetes – some people suffering from diabetes are more likely to have seizures or faint;

• Epilepsy – during an epileptic fit, the person is no longer in control or their body. 

These health restrictions are made to keep everyone safe on the roads. Drivers with poor health can potentially lose control of the truck, and end up in a very big collision.

Even with federal laws in place, you may still find a driver with poor health behind the wheel of a truck.

What You Should Do

If you were in a car accident involving a truck, and the driver was suffering from some health condition that should have prevented them from getting behind the wheel, then you may be entitled to compensation.

The most likely at-fault party in this scenario is the trucking company who knowingly allowed the driver to continue their duty in spite of their condition. It’s unlikely that the company was unaware of the driver’s condition, but if the driver did indeed hide their condition from their employer, then you may be able to recover damages directly from the driver.

Get in touch with a St. Louis car accident lawyer to understand your next move. Give us a call 24/7 at (314) 361-4242 for a FREE case evaluation.

One of the best ways to make sure everyone is safe is to steer clear of these four blind spots.

When driving on the road along with large trucks, most people assume it’s the truck driver who needs to show higher caution in order to avoid any accidents.

While it’s true truck driver have their fair share of responsibility when on the road, passenger vehicles also have a great role to play. Often, it is the caution of the passenger car that prevents an unfortunate collision in these cases.

One of the best ways to make sure everyone is safe is to steer clear of the four blind spots of a truck.

What Are the Blind Spots?

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there are 4 major blind spots passenger cars should never drive near:

1. Directly in Front – because the truck driver is higher, they won’t be able to see any vehicle that is driving too close in front of them. Because of that, it’s safer to keep your distance.

2. Directly Behind – the same principle goes for driving too closely behind the truck.

3. Along the Left Side – if you are driving alongside the truck on their left side, the driver won’t be able to see you until you get in front of it, or unless you remain far behind.

4. Along the Right side – this is often the most dangerous blind spot area out of all. It’s best to avoid driving on the right side of the truck altogether.

A good way to keep safe when driving on the same road of the truck is to assume that if you don’t see the truck in your vehicle side mirror, then the truck driver can’t see you either.

What to Do If You Enter a Blind Spot

If you somehow enter a truck’s blind spot, it’s important not to keep driving in it. Using good judgment, slow down or move ahead to come into the truck driver’s line of sight.

Always make sure you see the truck driver in your vehicle mirrors before signaling to switch lanes. Unless you do, it’s possible the truck driver won’t even see your vehicle signal, and that can increase the chances of an auto accident.

You also need to be even more cautious than you’d normally be with other passenger cars when taking any actions on the road – switching lanes, moving forward, trying to pull over, etc. These practices can make sure you and the passengers of your vehicle stay safe.

What If Something Goes Wrong?

Regardless of how cautious you are, car accidents still happen. If you’ve been in an accident with a truck driver, please reach out to a St. Louis car accident lawyer as soon as possible to see what your legal options are. Give us a call 24/7 at (314) 361-4242 for a FREE case evaluation.