If you’ve been in an accident with a semi-truck, you might have sustained some lasting or severe injuries because of it. Truck injuries are much more likely to involve injuries or fatalities, and truck accident claims are very common especially in high commercial traffic areas like cities in California.
San Jose has nearly a million citizens and is the seat of Santa Clara county. One of the most beautiful cities in the Bay Area, it’s a thoroughfare for tourists and commercial truck drivers and is always busy. There are thousands of lawyers available throughout the area. To win a truck accident claim, you’ll need one of the reliable truck accident attorneys in San Jose.
A good lawyer can help you determine whether you should file a claim, if you have a good case and what kind of compensation you should be looking for. Here is a guide to truck accident claims and how to file them.
Do I Need To File a Truck Accident Claim?
Although many people get into accidents with semi trucks every year, it doesn’t necessarily mean they all file a truck accident claim. The claim depends on the accident’s cause and whether it affected the driver severely or long-term.
In most cases, a truck accident claim is filed when the claimant was not at fault and can prove negligence on the side of the truck driver or trucking company. The victim must also prove lasting emotional, physical, or mental damage due to the accident. If this is the case, they make excellent pleas for compensation.
Compensation is used for medical bills and to heal any residual physical, mental, or emotional wounds that the person may have from the accident. In order to receive compensation from another driver or a trucking company, you’ll have to prove that negligence occurred and resulted in your injuries.
What to do After a Truck Accident
If you’ve just been in a truck accident, the first thing to do is not to call a lawyer and set up a plea case. Instead, you must ensure that immediate emergencies are taken care of and that everyone is safe.
Here is a series of steps on what to do when you get in a car accident with a truck.
Contact Authorities
If you are able, the first step is to contact the authorities. The police, fire department, and ambulance are all contacted when you make a 911 call in America. This will bring everyone to the scene and help answer the next questions.
Take Care of Injuries
If you are severely injured, you will likely be put into an ambulance and taken to the hospital. However, a milder accident can also result in injuries. You should visit a doctor within 24 hours, even if you feel fine. This will ensure you’ve taken all the right steps to receive compensation.
Contact Insurance
As soon as possible, contact your insurance agent. While at the scene of the crash, take pictures of the damage and discuss the accident with the other driver and any witnesses. You mustn’t apologize or take the blame, as this can later be used against you in court.
Get a Good Lawyer
If you believe you have proof of negligence and want to file a claim, you will need a good truck accident or a personal injury lawyer. It’s difficult to win claims without an attorney, as trucking companies usually have expert lawyers. If you have lasting or severe injuries, you can always speak to a lawyer to see if a claim would work.
File a Truck Accident Claim
Once you have a truck accident lawyer, filing a truck accident claim is a matter of finding evidence, talking to any witnesses, and waiting for a court date. Your attorney can walk you through each of these steps. With a good lawyer, you will get compensation and be able to carry on after an accident.
Final Thoughts
Although semi-truck accidents can be life-changing, they don’t have to devastate you. An experienced attorney will help you decide whether a truck accident claim is right and how much compensation to ask for. With this knowledge, you can make the right decision for your health and family.
