Truck accidents cause severe injuries and fatalities due to the massive size and weight of commercial vehicles. If you’re in a truck accident, you may sustain physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial losses.
Although it is illegal to leave the crash scene, some drivers flee the scene after a collision. When a negligent truck driver leaves the scene after a crash, you lose the chance to record the driver’s information and insurance details.
You should consult a legal professional if a driver flees the scene. A truck accident lawyer can investigate and gather evidence from traffic camera footage, video surveillance footage, and eyewitnesses to establish the truck driver’s negligence.
Schedule a Free Initial Consultation Today!
Your actions after a truck accident can enhance your health and legal rights as an injured victim. Here’s what you should do if a driver flees the scene:
You should alert the local police department if a truck driver leaves the scene after a collision.
Here are a few reasons to inform the police about the crash:
Seek medical attention after being injured in a truck accident. Injuries sustained in a truck accident may not be immediately apparent. Internal bleeding, organ damage, and soft tissue injuries can have delayed symptoms.
By seeking medical attention, you can ensure that any hidden injuries are diagnosed and treated early, preventing complications.
When you seek medical attention, a healthcare provider will document the injuries. Medical records and reports indicate the extent and severity of your injuries, which can strengthen your case if you decide to pursue a personal injury claim.
A truck accident lawyer can rely on medical records to initiate a personal injury claim or lawsuit against the negligent driver.
You should also notify your insurer about the crash. Many insurance providers require policyholders to inform them about a crash within a specific window. Check your policy to ensure compliance with its terms and conditions.
Your insurer can cater for injury-related losses if the truck driver has low settlement coverage or no insurance. Your underinsurance or uninsured coverage will cater for the injury-related losses.
You’re likely to leave money on the table if you accept or negotiate with an insurer without the support of a legal professional. Insurers are fond of making low settlement offers and hope you’ll take them without negotiations.
A truck accident lawyer can evaluate the offers and advise against accepting or pushing for a higher settlement value.
You should also consult a truck accident lawyer if a driver leaves the scene after a crash. They can advise you on the records you can keep to improve your chances of obtaining compensation for your losses.
Most importantly, they’ll guide you so you make the right decisions that protect your interests after the crash.
Here are the main factors that contribute to truck accidents:
Truck drivers often have demanding schedules, which contributes to exhaustion and fatigue. Sometimes, drivers overestimate their ability to drive through the night or stretch themselves beyond their capacity.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has a guideline on the number of hours that truck drivers should drive. Long hours on the road without adequate rest can impair a driver’s ability to react quickly and make sound decisions, increasing the risk of accidents.
Truck drivers can get distracted while behind the wheel. Any activity that diverts the driver’s attention, including grooming, texting and calling, eating or drinking, adjusting the radio, or adjusting the GPS, can be a distraction.
Distracted driving reduces the driver’s reaction time and makes it harder to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of truck crashes. A truck accident lawyer can use phone records, police accident reports, or social media activity to prove a distracted driving truck accident.
Truck drivers who exceed the speed limit endanger themselves and other road users. Speeding is operating a truck over the prescribed speed limit or driving too fast for prevailing road and weather conditions.
Here’s why overspeeding increases the risk of truck crashes:
Neglecting routine maintenance and failing to address mechanical issues can lead to catastrophic accidents. Faulty brakes, worn-out tires, or malfunctioning lights can contribute to the loss of control of the truck and an increased risk of accidents.
Poor road conditions significantly increase the risk of truck accidents. When roads are in disrepair, with potholes, cracks, or uneven surfaces, it becomes harder for truck drivers to maintain control of their vehicles.
Poor road conditions can lead to accidents, particularly when trucks travel at high speeds or in inclement weather conditions. The size and weight of these vehicles compound the impact of poor road conditions on truck accidents.
Trucks require greater stopping distances and can be more challenging to control, particularly on roads with poor conditions.
If you suffered an injury in a truck accident caused by poor road conditions, a truck accident lawyer can guide you through the legal process and advocate for your rights.
Harsh weather elements, such as heavy rain, snow, or fog, can significantly affect visibility and road conditions. Truck drivers who fail to adjust their driving to these conditions may be unable to react in time to avoid accidents.
Impaired driving means operating the vehicle while affected by:
When a truck driver operates a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, their ability to safely operate the truck is severely compromised. Impairment can affect their judgment, coordination, reaction time, and overall cognitive function, putting themselves and others on the road at risk.
Compensation for truck accidents allows injured victims to recover financially for their injury-related losses. It covers short-term losses like medication to long-term costs, including ongoing care or permanent disability.
Here are the damages you can pursue for a truck accident:
After an injury in a truck accident, you’ll require medical attention during your recovery. From emergency room visits and surgeries to ongoing rehabilitation and therapy, the cost of medical treatment can be staggering.
Compensation for medical expenses allows injured victims to recover the above costs and ensure they receive the necessary care to recover from their injuries.
If you’ve had to take time off work due to your truck accident injuries, you may be eligible to receive compensation for lost income. These damages compensate you for your lost income and any future income you may miss out on due to your injuries.
A truck accident attorney can help compile various records, including pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, and employment contracts, to prove your claim for lost income.
You can also pursue compensation for out-of-pocket expenses related to your injury.
Examples of out-of-pocket expenses you can pursue in a truck accident include:
You should keep your credit card statements, check stubs, and receipts as documents to prove out-of-pocket expenses.
Truck accidents can cause significant physical pain and emotional suffering. Compensation for pain and suffering aims to provide monetary relief for the physical and emotional distress you’ve experienced as a result of the accident.
It takes into account factors such as the severity and duration of your pain, the impact on your daily life, and any resulting mental anguish.
Truck accidents can be traumatic events that leave a lasting impact on your mental well-being. Learning you’ll be permanently disfigured or disabled can trigger mental distress. Truck accident victims who are mentally distressed have symptoms such as anxiety, depression, social phobia, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Compensation for mental distress allows the injured victim to pay for therapy, medication, and other programs that enhance their mental wellness.
In severe cases, a truck accident can result in permanent disability or impairment. Compensation for permanent disability considers the loss of physical or mental function, resulting in a reduced ability to perform daily activities, pursue employment, or enjoy life.
A truck accident lawyer can pursue these damages so you can adjust to life with a permanent disability and ensure you have the necessary support and resources.
If you have suffered a catastrophic injury or the loss of a loved one in a truck accident, you may be entitled to compensation for the loss of companionship.
Loss of companionship damages recognizes the impact the accident has had on your relationships and the resulting loss of emotional support, guidance, and companionship.
A truck accident can significantly impact your quality of life, limiting your physical abilities or preventing you from participating in activities you once enjoyed. For instance, a limb loss can prevent you from participating in golf, your favorite sport.
Compensation for reduced quality of life considers the extent to which the accident has affected your overall well-being, including the loss of enjoyment of life and diminished ability to engage in social, recreational, and personal pursuits.
A truck accident attorney can prove the extent of your injuries and your inability to enjoy life.
You should work closely with a truck accident lawyer to enhance the chances of a favorable outcome in your claim.
Here are a few key ways that a truck accident attorney can help secure your rights and maximize your chances of a successful outcome:
You may be entitled to compensation after a truck accident caused by someone else’s negligence. Even so, you must prove the fault of the negligent truck driver to obtain compensation for your losses.
You may also face resistance from the insurer of the negligent truck driver. Their insurance adjuster may shift fault to you or make a low settlement offer that doesn’t cover your losses.
A truck accident attorney can protect your interest in the claim by establishing the value of your damages and fighting for a maximum settlement value. Get in touch with a Pennsylvania personal injury attorney for legal support.
Marcus & Mack
