Truck Accident Advice

Accidents involving trucks, due to their size, weight and momentum, are often much worse than smaller car collisions, sometimes resulting in serious injury and even death. Trucks, frequently referred to as commercial vehicles, big rigs, semi-trucks, or commercial trucks, are much heavier than passenger cars and sometimes carry dangerous loads, such as flammable and hazardous materials, thereby causing major collisions and very severe injuries when an accident occurs.

Due to the risk of severe injury, here is a simple check list of some things to do if you are ever involved in a truck accident or truck collision, subject to the linked Disclaimer, that is also printed below.

What to do first:

• Check for Injuries—If you or someone else is seriously hurt in the truck accident, the first thing you need to do is contact 911 to get help. Even if your injuries do not immediately appear serious, it is still important to have paramedics check your injuries as they may be more severe than you originally think.
• Get to a Safe Spot—It is important to stay safe after the accident. Leave the vehicles where they are—this can be helpful to police to determine what happened—but if possible, move out of the way so no other harm occurs.

Second, Call the Police:

• Wait for Police to Arrive—If the truck accident is not your fault, we advise calling the police and waiting for them to come so you (or your lawyer) can obtain a traffic collision report. The police report is crucial to verifying the accident was not your fault.

Third, Gather Information:

• Talk to the Drivers—Gather identifying information such as name, phone number, and address, from each of the drivers involved in the accident, including the truck driver. Be sure to actually look at their driver’s license and copy down the number—don’t have them tell it to you as it is possible for them to be dishonest.
• Gather insurance information—take time to get the insurance information of those involved in the accident. This information is necessary to get compensation for property damage or injuries sustained in the accident.
• Gather Employment Information—If the truck accident involves a large truck such as a big rig or semi-truck, write down who the driver works for. In these situations, if they are an employee, the employer may be responsible for providing compensation to those injured by their driver.
• Get Witness Information—if there are bystanders, other drivers, or passengers that witness the truck accident, gather their personal information as well. Their testimony of what happened can be crucial, especially if you were not at fault for the accident and need to prove that fact so you can get compensation for your injuries.

Fourth, Take Pictures and/or Video:

• Capture the Accident—if possible to do so safely, take pictures or video to capture the scene of the accident. These photos or videos can come in handy should you need to show what happened in a property or personal injury claim.
• Take photos of Driver Information—as previously mentioned, you should gather information from the other drivers or people involved in the accident. One of the best ways to do this is by taking pictures of their driver’s license, insurance card, as well as their license plate and car. Upload those pictures or send them in an email as soon as possible so they are not lost if something happens to your phone.

Fifth, Contact a Skilled Los Angeles Truck Accident Attorney

• Call the Offices of Walch Law as soon as possible—it is important to get in contact with a knowledgeable attorney as soon as you can after a truck accident occurs. If you are injured in the accident you are entitled to receive compensation for your injuries. Our attorneys can help assist you from the very beginning, including helping you get quality medical treatment, filing accident report forms with the police and DMV, dealing with insurance agents, and filing your personal injury claim.
• Set up a FREE case consultation to discuss your personal injury claim— When you are injured in a truck accident caused by another driver, you can get compensation for your injuries and other losses suffered as a result of those injuries. You can receive this compensation by filing a personal injury claim against the person or party responsible. At Walch Law, your first case consultation is always free. By calling us at 1-866 Injury 2 (1-866-465-8792) or contacting us online, we can schedule your consultation with a skilled member of our legal team. We can evaluate your case, answer your questions and discuss what compensation may be available in your situation.

As stated, truck accidents and collisions can be especially damaging due to the larger size, weight, and momentum as compared to much smaller vehicles. Such accidents often require prompt investigation, hospital and other medical care, and assistance by an experienced truck accident injury lawyer. Don’t hesitate to call, because delaying could result in missing your chance to get compensation—there are procedures and deadlines you can’t miss.

Should you need any help, advice or just would like a FREE case evaluation, please call us now at 818-222-3400 or 1.866 INJURY 2 or use our simple online contact form. On these types of cases, we work on a contingency fee basis—this means that there is NO fee unless and until we WIN! Call us today!

The content and/or information contained in this truck accident advice webpage and entire website is provided for general informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter or any particular claim or case. No recipients of content from this truck accident advice web page and/or site, whether clients or otherwise, should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content or information included in the truck accident advice page or entire web site without first seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice based on the particular facts and circumstances at issue in any particular incident, claim or case from a California Truck Accident Injury Lawyer or a lawyer licensed in the recipient's state. The content of this truck accident advice webpage and entire website contains general information and may not reflect current legal developments, strategy, laws, verdicts or settlements. These Attorneys and Firm expressly disclaim any and all liability with respect to any and all actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information and/or contents of this general truck accident advice page and/or this entire personal injury / accident Website.