When 80,000 pounds of steel slam into your car, the damage is usually severe. Depending on the circumstances of your crash, you may file negligence, product liability, gross negligence (recklessness), and/or wrongful death litigation against multiple liable parties. If you need legal assistance for truck accident cases in St. Louis.
Obtaining compensation can cover medical expenses, property damage, and lost wages. To successfully pursue the maximum amount of damages, you will need to gather evidence from the accident scene.
1. Obtain the Help of a Lawyer
A truck accident lawyer should be among your first contacts following a crash involving a commercial vehicle. In the event of an accident, a skilled attorney will review your case and determine how to best proceed with a lawsuit against multiple parties.
Some victims of these accidents suffer life-changing injuries that affect their ability to work and live comfortably. Victims deserve justice and fair compensation for their losses.
An experienced St Louis truck accident attorney will help preserve evidence like black box data, medical bills and wage slips indicating lost earnings. They will also manage interactions with insurance companies, which are well known to try and pay as little as possible for injury claims. Moreover, they will also help document intangible losses such as pain and suffering, emotional trauma and more.
2. Contact the Authorities
When 80,000 pounds of steel smashes into a car, it’s often disastrous. Fortunately, in Missouri, people who suffer serious injuries in truck accidents may recover compensation for their losses, including medical expenses, property damage, and lost income.
The first step is to contact the authorities. Doing this is crucial for several reasons, including preserving evidence and creating an accident report that can be used in the case.
A qualified lawyer can use photographs from the scene, skid mark measurements, vehicle inspections, black box data, and eyewitness statements to prove liability for the crash. This could involve not just the truck driver but also the fleet owner, the trucking company, and possibly even the manufacturer of the truck. They can also help you pursue punitive damages.
3. Gather Evidence at the Scene
Our lawyers can obtain black box information, maintenance logs, driver history records, alcohol and drug test results, and other important evidence that can help prove liability in the case. We can also help determine the types of legal claims to file, such as negligence, gross negligence (reckless conduct), product liability, and wrongful death litigation.
Victims of truck accidents often suffer life-changing injuries, including severe physical and emotional trauma, debilitating medical treatment, and permanent loss of work-related income. These victims have a right to be compensated for their losses.
However, it can be difficult for injured claimants to get the compensation they deserve because of the insurance companies’ efforts to pay them as little as possible. We can protect your rights and fight the insurance company to ensure that you get the money you need to recover.
4. Report the Accident
Truck accidents are more severe than regular auto accidents because of the size and weight of commercial trucks. They also cause more expensive property damage, which makes it crucial to get legal assistance as soon as possible.
Your lawyer will need to obtain black box data, maintenance logs, driver’s history, training records, and other information from the trucking company. This information will help to establish liability for the accident and to calculate your compensation.
Your medical records are also important, particularly if you have severe or permanent injuries. Insurance companies will want to see documentation of your injuries, including emergency room visits and follow-up appointments with your doctor, as well as X-rays and CT scans. Follow your doctors’ treatment plan and attend all appointments as scheduled.
5. Hire a Lawyer
The consequences of a truck accident can be severe. Many victims suffer debilitating injuries and require medical treatments, such as surgery and physical therapy. Some are permanently disabled, which can affect their ability to work and take care of their families. These types of injuries require substantial monetary compensation.
It is important to retain an attorney, as the complexities of a truck crash case require expert legal guidance. Your lawyer will act as your advocate and pillar of support throughout the process. He will negotiate insurance policies and handle paperwork to help you recover compensation for your losses. He will also pursue punitive damages if applicable in severe cases of negligence or misconduct. Document all financial repercussions from the accident, including medical bills and wage slips indicating lost income. Also, keep a daily log of pain and other intangible losses to make your case stronger for compensation.