If a commercial vehicle hits your car, take immediate action: ask if the driver is on duty, call 911, seek medical care, exchange information, document everything, and contact a lawyer.
Commercial vehicle accidents are complex, and the steps you take immediately after the crash can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation.
Not all commercial vehicles are semi-trucks with company stickers or other identifiers that designate them as commercial vehicles. Many delivery vans, box trucks, and work vehicles are commercial vehicles even without obvious branding.
It is vital to ask the other driver if you are uncertain whether they are on duty and driving a commercial vehicle.
The Texas Transportation Code (Sec. 621.001)1 defines a commercial vehicle as any vehicle other than a moped or motorcycle used to transport goods.
Asking allows you to determine necessary follow-up questioning and request additional information to make securing compensation less confusing. Failing to ask can leave a driver missing significant information and details about a company and its contact representative.
Request Law Enforcement’s Assistance
It is always recommended to call 911 when a car accident has occurred. Drivers are required to report accidents (Sec. 550.041)2 resulting in damages over $1,000.
Very little damage is needed to end up with costs exceeding this amount. Damage can often be less apparent, affecting electrical systems, the car’s frame, and other parts of a vehicle that are not visible on initial inspection.
An official report from law enforcement allows you to start the paper trail documenting the damages you have suffered.
Receive Medical Care as Soon as Possible
It can be frightening to be involved in an accident involving a large commercial vehicle. The adrenaline that results from the incident can prevent an individual from being fully aware of their injuries until days or weeks after a crash.
Medical documentation establishes when the injuries occurred and what caused them.
Failing to receive immediate care or scheduling a medical appointment with a physician as soon as possible arms the large insurance companies who cover commercial vehicles and their companies with a convincing argument: that your injuries were minor and required no medical attention.
When filing a claim or case against a commercial vehicle company or a driver, proof will be necessary that harm resulted from the responsible party’s negligence. A failure to obtain medical documentation can be damaging or significantly reduce the compensation needed to recover after an accident.
Exchange Contact Information with the Driver and Witnesses
Always exchange critical information with the driver of a commercial vehicle. Ask for insurance documentation and the contact information of the person you must correspond with about the damages. Document all of the significant names and phone numbers along with any insurance information.
Also, ask witnesses to the commercial vehicle accident for their contact information. These vital on-the-scene accounts offered by witnesses are crucial to documentation. Their unique perspective of being unattached and unbiased in the situation can tremendously impact the compensation of a driver who suffers damages.
Document Your Crash
In addition to gathering contact information from other drivers involved in the crash and from witnesses to the incident, take as many pictures and videos as possible, recreating the incident through photographic and video documentation.
Take photos and videos of the damage to your vehicle and any other vehicles or structures. Photograph license plates, signs, and stickers denoting the name of a business. Ensure the pictures include the entire commercial vehicle to successfully document the size of the vehicle and any exposed cargo on any attached flatbed trailer.
Take photographs of skid marks or large puddles of water in the road that may have contributed to the wreck. Capturing any critical information in pictures or videos aids a commercial vehicle accident attorney in weaving together the compelling facts that provide the evidence supporting your damages.
Immediately Contact a Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer
The Farah Law team understands that commercial vehicle accidents are complicated. Determining who is responsible for the damages can become significantly challenging.
There are multiple parties we may investigate to reduce how overwhelmed you feel, streamline the process, and find a more direct path to a resolution. The entities who may bear responsibility for the incident can include but are not limited to:
- The truck driver
- The truck’s owner
- The trucking company
- The cargo loaders
- A parts manufacturer
- A government entity
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a commercial vehicle, do not wait to seek legal help. Evidence can disappear. Witnesses can forget details. And the statute of limitations can expire.
At Farah Law, we offer free case evaluations and will not charge you anything until we secure compensation on your behalf. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation and let us help you take back control of your life.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
Sources Cited
- https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.621.htm
- https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/TN/htm/TN.550.htm
