According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, nearly 350,000 people were injured or killed in trucking accidents in 2017. This is an increase of 10 percent since 2016.
Trucking accidents involve trailers weighing more than 10,000 pounds. So, it’s not surprising that people often suffer catastrophic injuries when a truck driver is negligent.
Why are there so many injuries from 18-wheeler and other trucking accidents?
Drivers can feel pressured to meet company demands. Companies want their drivers to make a lot of deliveries in a short amount of time. Trying to meet company goals can result in shortcuts. When drivers take shortcuts, they may not get the rest they need. They may not maintain the truck the way they should. They may drive too fast or cut off other drivers. These shortcuts can cause collisions and collisions cause injures.
Regardless of company goals, no truck driver is allowed to needlessly endanger others drivers on the road. Safety rules are in place to protect us all. If those safety rules are broken and you are injured, you may need an attorney.
What do you do after a trucking accident?
Here are the steps to take after a trucking accident:
- Call the police and request an Accident Report.
- Get contact information from witnesses and the at-fault driver.
- Get insurance information from the at-fault driver.
- Take pictures of the scene, your injuries, and damage to your vehicle.
- Consult a medical doctor for your injuries and follow your doctor’s advice.
- Retain all medical bills.
- Contact a lawyer for advice.
- Direct all communication with any insurance adjuster to your lawyer.
- Do not give a recorded statement to an insurance company.
- Do not sign any Release for an insurance company before consulting an attorney.
- Do not accept any check from an insurance company before consulting an attorney.
Why get an attorney for a truck accident?
An attorney can get you the treatment you need. An attorney can fight to get you the money to pay your medical bills. An attorney tells you what your claim for physical pain and mental anguish is worth. And an attorney can help prevent a truck driver from causing more injuries on the road.
Some doctors refuse to treat people injured in truck accidents. Some hospitals refuse to bill health insurance for injuries caused by truck accidents. And some health insurance companies refuse to pay for medical treatment related to truck accidents. When this happens, an attorney may be the only way to receive the medical treatment you need or to pay the mounting medical costs.
The Avant Law Firm can have your medical bills paid by the truck driver’s insurance company when your case is over. There’s no delay in treatment. You focus on getting well. Let the Avant Law Firm manage your claim.
We can help. Give us a call.
We explain the process every step of the way. When you work with us, you get a lawyer who is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law. Anjel Avant is one of only 3 percent of Texas attorneys who possess this certification. We have recovered millions of dollars for clients injured or killed in trucking accidents.
We are a small boutique firm that specializes in personal injury law. We are not high-volume or a general practice law firm. We do not advertise because most of our cases come from client referrals or other lawyers because of our law firm’s reputation in the legal community and the results we’ve achieved for clients like you.
You want a compassionate and knowledgeable attorney to assist you with your trucking accident injury claim. We want to help you. Contact us for a free consult.
