Truck accidents are different from typical car accidents, and often much more serious. Because commercial trucks are so much larger and heavier than passenger vehicles, the injuries involved tend to be more severe, and the claims themselves tend to be more complicated. There are usually more parties involved, more regulations at play, and more insurance companies protecting their own interests. An experienced personal injury attorney could help you navigate the legal process.
Why Truck Accidents Are Different
A truck accident claim isn’t just about the driver. Depending on the situation, liability can involve:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company that employs the driver
- The company that owns the truck or trailer, if different from the trucking company
- A cargo loading company, if improper loading contributed to the accident
- A maintenance company, if a mechanical failure played a role
On top of that, commercial trucking is regulated by federal rules (through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) in addition to state law — things like driver hours-of-service limits, vehicle inspection requirements, and licensing standards. All of this makes these cases more document-heavy and more complex to investigate than a typical car accident claim.
We Don’t Handle Truck Accident Cases Ourselves — But We Can Help You Find Someone Who Does
Our firm focuses on personal injury cases involving passenger vehicles, so we don’t personally take on truck accident claims (unless it is a smaller style truck, pickup truck, etc). That said, if you’ve been hurt in an accident involving a commercial truck, we’re still happy to talk with you about what happened. If it makes sense, we can connect you with a trusted attorney in the area who focuses specifically on truck accident cases and has the resources to take them on properly.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
Whether or not we end up being the right fit, here are a few things that can help protect you and your case early on:
- Get medical care right away, even if you feel fine — some injuries don’t show symptoms immediately
- Take photos of the scene, both vehicles, and any visible injuries, if you’re able to safely do so
- Get the truck driver’s information, including the name of the trucking company and any identifying numbers on the truck or trailer
- Get witness information, if there were any bystanders who saw what happened
- Avoid giving a recorded statement to any insurance company, including your own, before speaking with an attorney
- Keep records of medical visits, missed work, and any related expenses
Not Sure Where to Start? Just Call.
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, you don’t have to figure out who to call on your own. Reach out to us, and we’ll listen to what happened and help point you in the right direction — whether that ends up being us in the case of a smaller truck, or an attorney better suited to handle a truck accident claim.
