Advice From a Personal Injury Lawyer: 6 Steps to Take After an 18 Wheeler Accident

Don’t let a trucking company run over your rights. Here are six tips from a Tolbert Beadle personal injury lawyer.

Wrecks involving semi-trucks and large tractor trailers are extremely dangerous and can have devastating long-term repercussions. Unlike most accidents, a commercial entity is usually liable for a crash involving a semi truck or trailer. This can make establishing fault far more complex with negligence frequently occurring at multiple levels. Fortunately, a truck accident lawyer at Tolbert Beadle is experienced in these types of cases and knows exactly what to look for when fighting giant trucking companies. The following tips will preserve your rights and help you recover damages should you ever become injured due to a negligent truck driver.

Call the Police

As you would in most any traffic accident, calling the police is a crucial first step. A personal injury lawyer from Tolbert Beadle can use the information from a police report to help win your case.

Take Photographs of the Accident

If possible, take photographs of the damage and record statements from eyewitnesses immediately following the accident. Again, these are measures any auto accident lawyer would suggest you would probably take after any car wreck, but your truck wreck attorney knows how to use these resources to win your case.

Look for Surveillance Cameras

Scan the area for surveillance cameras. If a nearby intersection or business has a camera rolling, your personal injury lawyer can use this footage to help prove your case.

Request Your Personal Injury Lawyer Investigate the Driver

An 18 wheeler can weigh up to 20,000 pounds and take much longer to stop than a regular passenger vehicle. Because of this, trucking companies and their drivers are held to special state and federal standards to ensure safe operation. One example is the Commercial Driver’s License, or CDL. All commercial truck drivers must obtain a CDL, and the heavier the truck, the more rigorous the test. A tractor trailer accident attorney from Tolbert Beadle is adept at uncovering CDL violations, making it far easier to win your personal injury case.

Request an Investigation of the Log Book

Truck drivers are also required by law to keep detailed log books for every commercial trip. These log books contain a wealth of data, perhaps most importantly the number of hours a driver spent on the road in a given day compared to the number of hours spent resting. If your truck accident lawyer from Tolbert Beadle can prove that the accident was caused by a sleep-deprived driver, then your settlement is likely won.

Contact Tolbert Beadle

Finally, don’t hesitate to contact a personal injury lawyer with Tolbert Beadle. Proving that a truck driver and/or company acted negligently is a complex, time-consuming process. The sooner you call us, the sooner we can begin building a case against the defendant and their insurance company. As always, the consultation is free, and we don’t get paid until you win your settlement.