Getting into an accident with a truck is probably one of our worst nightmares on the road. Yet, in 2021, there were more than 14,000 truck and bus crashes in Arizona which caused over 3,000 injuries and 119 fatalities.
Truck accidents are more complicated than other auto collisions because they often involve multiple parties, including the truck driver and the trucking company. Therefore, you need to tread very carefully to ensure that you don’t take the blame for other people’s mistakes.
After a truck accident, there are several steps you must take to protect your rights. Right after the collision occurs, be very careful about what you say. Next, focus on getting medical help and calling the police and your insurance company.
Talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer to pursue the compensation you require. The lawyers at Phillips Law Group have decades of combined experience in successfully protecting the rights of Arizona truck accident victims. We have collected more than $1 billion in compensation for our clients over the last 26 years.
Protecting your rights after a truck accident begins with a free case evaluation with a Phillips Law Group attorney. We want to hear your story.
Step One: Get Medical Attention
Your rights are very important, but your health is your priority after a truck accident. Even if you feel fine at that moment, always get yourself checked out. Some truck accident injuries, such as concussion, whiplash, and back injuries, do not cause pain immediately.
Therefore, a doctor is best placed to assess whether or not you have sustained any injuries in the accident. He or she will create a medical report, which may prove to be important evidence in your personal injury case. The doctor can also advise you on monitoring symptoms of injuries and what to do if they flare up.
If you have been hurt in a truck accident, you may have the right to receive damages to cover your medical expenses, ongoing disabilities, and pain and suffering. That’s why it’s very important to see a doctor immediately if your injuries get worse or change. This will create a medical record that may be used to prove the impact of your injuries at a later date.
If you do not get prompt medical attention, your claim could be detrimentally affected. The insurance company may try to argue that your injuries are not as serious as you claim or are not related to the truck accident. Don’t compromise your rights by delaying medical treatment.
Step Two: Admit Nothing
All auto accidents are stressful, especially those involving heavy vehicles like trucks. Tempers can become flared in the heat of the moment, and people may begin playing the blame game. It could be tempting to diffuse the situation by apologizing and taking at least part of the blame.
However, this could work to your disadvantage. Insurance companies are looking for all possible grounds to reduce the amount they have to pay. If you verbally admit liability, they may use this to try to pin the blame on you at a later date.
Protect your rights by refusing to get drawn into a discussion about who is to blame. Remember that Arizona follows the pure comparative fault rule. Therefore, even if you were partly responsible for causing the accident, you may still be able to make a claim for compensation.
There will be plenty of time later for discussions about liability. So, immediately after the accident, keep quiet about who was to blame. Instead, report the accident to the police and calmly tell them exactly what happened, sticking to the facts. Then focus on gathering information at the scene of the accident.
Step Three: Gather Information and Photographs
As soon as it is safe to do so, start gathering information from the other parties involved in the accident. Ask for the following information:
- Personal details, including names, addresses, and phone numbers
- Driver’s license details
- Insurance details
- Vehicle make, model, and registration
- Name and contact details of the trucking company
You must also provide your information to the other parties. Also, talk to any witnesses and get their contact information.
Next, focus on taking photographs of the scene of the accident. If you can do so safely, take photos from several different angles and include the license plates in your photographs. Take some shots showing the entire scene and others focusing on specific damage.
Additionally, look around for anything that may have contributed to the accident. For example, did a vehicle swerve to avoid a pothole? Is there road construction going on that played a part?
Take pictures of the scene and contributing factors. Try to create a photographic record of anything that may have affected what happened.
Don’t forget to take photographs of the interior of your vehicle. This may provide evidence of damage or deployed airbags.
Step Four: Keep Careful Records
After a truck accident, keep track of all the expenses you’ve incurred, including:
- Medical bills
- Co-pays/out-of-pocket medical expenses
- Medications
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity/business opportunities
- Property damage, including vehicle repair bills
A personal injury lawyer may be able to use these records to build a case for pursuing compensation on your behalf. So keep them all in a file and bring them to your case evaluation.
You may also be able to seek compensation for pain and suffering. Compared with keeping a file of bills to prove monetary expenses, keeping track of your physical pain and emotional distress can be more challenging. So it may be a good idea to keep a journal, documenting your physical and emotional state each day.
Step Five: Talk to a Truck Accident Lawyer
Truck accident cases can be extremely complicated, with multiple potentially liable parties to consider. An experienced attorney can identify all these to ensure that every avenue of compensation is explored.
In some cases, the insurance company may try to pressure you into signing a release form and accepting a lowball settlement offer. Before accepting any offer from an insurance company, schedule a free case evaluation with a truck accident attorney.
At Phillips Law Group, our personal injury lawyers have years of experience in handling cases like yours. During the free case evaluation, one of our legal team members will listen carefully to your account of what happened and examine any evidence you bring with you. From there, our lawyer will decide whether your case is likely to be successful and if we can take it on.
How Phillips Law Group Can Fight for Your Rights
Don’t wonder whether you have a claim for damages after a truck accident. Protect your rights by seeking legal representation as soon as possible. In many cases, you only have two years to file a lawsuit after the date of an auto accident, so don’t delay in getting legal help.
With the assistance of a truck accident attorney, you can pursue and gain compensation that can allow you to get on with your life. If we take on your case, your Phillips Law Group attorney will consider all damages – not just the economic ones. You pay nothing unless we secure compensation for you.
Available 24/7