If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, you know that the aftermath can be devastating. You may be looking at mounting medical expenses, lost income and a host of other expenses. Our New York truck accident lawyers get a lot of questions from clients about the complexities of truck accident cases and what they should know. Here are answers to some of the most common questions we receive about truck accidents.
What Steps Should I Take After a Truck Accident?
The first step after a truck accident is to make sure that you and your 
passengers are safe. If someone has been injured, call 911. File a police report and get a copy for your own records. Your New York truck accident lawyer can also get this report for you. Get as much evidence from the scene as possible. This includes photos, video, contact information for anyone who may have witnessed the accident, surveillance videos, etc. It’s good to have as much evidence as possible after a truck accident. Your attorney can help not only to secure and compile evidence, but also to make sure that important pieces of evidence such as truck driver logs, truck maintenance records, black box data, etc. are preserved.
Do I need a Lawyer?
There are many ways in which truck accident cases are different from car accident cases and having an experienced truck accident lawyer here on your side right at the outset can be invaluable. Large trucking companies look to start investigating an accident with their own insurance company experts right away. So you will want to have a lawyer on your side with the resources to protect your rights. A seasoned lawyer will have a thorough knowledge of personal injury laws, federal trucking regulations and other steps that need to be taken to protect your rights. Your lawyer will also be able to consult with accident reconstruction experts if there is an issue with regard to liability.
Should I Give a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company?
Do not give any type of recorded statement to the insurance company or insurance adjuster as it is critical that you first talk to your lawyer to get an understanding of what your rights are and the pitfalls you should avoid. The insurance company may seem to ask a series of harmless questions. But, remember that recorded interviews may be used against you later and can turn out to be damaging to your claim.
What Proof Do I Need to Win My Case?
As a plaintiff in a truck accident you must prove that negligence (carelessness) caused the truck accident and your injuries and losses. This requires you to show that the truck driver acted unreasonably under the circumstances. Examples of acts of negligence by a truck driver include, but are not limited to, running a red light or stop sign, driving at an excessive rate of speed or unsafe speed, driving while impaired, driving while distracted, driving fatigued, etc. The trucking company and/or truck owner can also be held liable for the truck driver’s negligence.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Truck Accident?
The more serious your injuries are, the higher the value or worth that your truck accident claim is likely to be. Damages in truck accidents include compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. Families of deceased accident victims may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for damages such as lost future income, funeral costs, medical expenses, pain and suffering, etc.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, or if you have lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident caused by a negligent or careless driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 49 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com