What to Do After a Semi Truck Accident?

There’s much to do after a semi truck accident, but the first things you should do include:

• Making sure you stay safe
• Getting medical help right away
• Talking to a lawyer to protect your rights

Once you’re safe, try to gather as much information as you can about the accident. 

 Take photos of the vehicles, the road, and any visible injuries. Get the truck driver’s name, insurance information, and the company they work for. If anyone saw the crash, ask for their contact details. Witness accounts can help you prove what happened and protect your claim.

After receiving medical care, you should focus on your recovery and next steps. Truck accidents often involve serious injuries and costly medical bills. Our experienced truck accident lawyers in Raleigh will deal with the trucking company and insurers and pursue awards for your losses.

What to Do After a Semi Truck Accident

After a commercial truck accident, your actions in the moments and days following the crash are critical to protecting your health, safety, and legal rights. You should do the following after a semi truck crash:

Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Injuries from truck accidents can be severe or may not appear until days later. Seeing a doctor promptly not only ensures your health but also creates a medical record of your injuries, which is essential for your claim. Follow all medical advice and keep copies of your medical records and bills.

Tell Your Insurance Company

Informing your insurance provider about a semi-truck accident is an important step, but how you communicate with them can significantly affect your claim. Our lawyers can handle this process to make sure we protect your rights and avoid common pitfalls.

Get in Touch With an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer

Commercial truck accidents often involve complex liability issues and large insurance companies. Consulting our truck accident attorney early on can help protect your rights. 

Why Establishing Liability in Your Semi Truck Accident Matters

Liability is about figuring out who caused the accident and who should pay for your losses. In a semi-truck accident, figuring this out can be more complicated than in a regular car crash. 

Knowing who is liable in a commercial truck accident is important because it affects how much compensation you can receive for your injuries and losses.

Who Can We Hold Responsible for the Crash?

Several people or companies might be responsible for a semi truck accident, including:

• The truck driver: If the driver was distracted, speeding, driving while tired, or under the influence, they might be at fault.
• The trucking company: The company could be responsible if they failed to train the driver, didn’t follow safety rules, or pressured the driver to work too many hours.
• The maintenance crew: If the truck wasn’t properly maintained or repaired, and a mechanical issue caused the accident, the maintenance team could be at fault.
• The truck manufacturer: Sometimes, faulty parts like brakes, tires, or steering systems can cause accidents. In these cases, the manufacturer might be held responsible.
• The cargo loading team: If someone loaded the tractor-trailer’s cargo incorrectly or the truck was overloaded, it could cause the truck to lose balance or make it harder to stop.
• Other motorists or pedestrians: If another driver or pedestrian’s actions contributed to the accident, they might share responsibility for the crash.
• Government entities: Poorly maintained roads, missing signs, or faulty traffic signals could make a city, county, or state government liable for the accident.

Our Raleigh personal injury lawyers can help investigate who is at fault by examining evidence such as driver logs, truck maintenance records, and accident reports.

Key Evidence for Proving Who’s Responsible for the Crash

Proving fault in a semi-truck accident requires strong evidence that shows what caused the crash and who is responsible. A truck accident lawyer from our firm can help gather, analyze, and present various kinds of evidence to support your claim. 

Here are some key types of evidence we can use to prove your case:

• Truck black box data: Most trucks have an “event data recorder” or black box that records critical details like speed, braking patterns, and engine performance at the time of the accident. This data can provide insights into the driver’s actions and the truck’s condition.
• Driver’s logbook and records: Federal regulations require truck drivers to document their hours of service to ensure they are not driving while tired. Reviewing logbooks can reveal if the driver violated these rules.
• Maintenance records: These records show whether the truck was properly maintained or if mechanical issues were ignored, contributing to the crash.
• Dashcam and surveillance footage: Dashcam videos from the truck or nearby vehicles, as well as surveillance footage from traffic cameras or nearby businesses, can provide a clear view of what happened during the crash.
• Witness statements: Testimonies from people who saw the accident can help verify details about how the crash occurred.
• Cargo records: Overloaded or improperly secured cargo can make trucks harder to control, and reviewing cargo records can determine if loading violations contributed to the accident.
• Police reports: Official accident reports often include important details about the crash, such as weather conditions, initial assessments of fault, and any citations issued.

At our firm, our team knows how important this evidence is to prove your case. Our attorneys will work tirelessly to collect and analyze all available evidence in an 18-wheeler crash. 

By leaving no stone unturned, we aim to hold the responsible parties accountable and maximize the compensation you deserve.

Types of Compensation You Can Seek After a Truck Crash

A truck crash can leave you with serious injuries, mounting medical bills, and time away from work. Recovering from such an event isn’t just about healing physically—it’s also about regaining financial stability so that you can move forward after the crash.

If the crash wasn’t your fault, our attorneys will work to recover financial compensation for the damages you suffered. Understanding the types of compensation you can pursue is an important step toward getting your life back on track.

Here’s a breakdown of what you may be able to recover:

Economic Damages

Economic damages are costs from the accident you can easily measure. These include medical bills for your injuries, repairs to your vehicle, and any money you lost from missing work.

If your injuries mean you will need future medical care or can’t return to your old job, those costs can also be included.

Non-Economic Damages

Some damages are harder to put a price on, but they are just as important, and we must include them. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and losing the ability to enjoy your life the way you used to.

For example, if your injuries keep you from doing hobbies you love, you could seek compensation for this loss.

Punitive Damages

In rare cases, a court could award punitive damages. These damages intend to punish someone for being extremely reckless, like a truck driver who was drunk or driving dangerously. 

Punitive damages are not just about helping you—they also send a message that this kind of behavior is unacceptable.

How Long Do You Have to Sue for Accident Damages in N.C.?

If we cannot settle your case outside of court, we can take legal action in civil court by a certain time.

In North Carolina, the statute of limitations deadline for personal injury cases, including those resulting from semi truck accidents, is three years from the date of the accident, as outlined in G.S. § 1-52. If you miss this deadline, you may permanently lose your right to pursue a lawsuit. 

If you hire us to handle your case, we will file your case on time.

Call Us to Find Out What to Do After a Semi Truck Accident 

If you’ve been in a semi-truck accident, Whitley Law Firm is ready to help you with your next steps. For over 50 years, we’ve supported seriously injured accident victims, and our attorneys bring more than 120 years of combined legal experience to every case. 

From gathering evidence to handling the legal details, we’ll focus on protecting your rights and securing your deserved compensation. We can also advise you on how long it can take to settle your semi truck accident claim. 

Call Whitley Law Firm today for a free consultation, and let us fight for you. We will return your call within 24 hours.