Delivery trucks are on the nation’s highways each and every day. Whether they’re from FedEx, Amazon, UPS, the USPS (United States Postal Service) or some other company, you probably won’t be able to travel more than a couple of miles before you see one. Unfortunately, you never know when one of these huge vehicles will cause an accident, either due to an equipment failure, a tired or impaired driver, or some other reason.
If you’ve suffered an injury in a truck accident, whether it was due to a faulty truck part, a speeding driver, or some other form of negligence committed by another party, the attorneys with Penn Kestner & McEwen will be here for you.
When you get in touch with us, we’ll be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. We guarantee you will never find a law firm with more passionate legal representatives, ones who will fight for your rights at every turn. Our attorneys will do everything possible to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Give us a call at (800) 732-3070 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
Here is some information to let you know what you need to do if you’re involved in an accident with a delivery truck.
1. Call the Police Immediately
The trucks used by huge corporations such as UPS, Amazon, FedEx and others can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds. When they hit a passenger vehicle, the damage can be incredible, and the injuries can be devastating. That’s why you should immediately contact the police if you’re in this kind of accident.
The police will contact emergency medical personnel if there are injuries, which will obviously be critically important. However, they will also investigate the accident, preserving the scene to determine what happened. The information they put on the police report could be key to helping you win your case.
2. If the Police Don’t Call an Ambulance, Seek Immediate Medical Attention ASAP
There could be a chance that those involved in a truck accident don’t appear to be hurt. The police who arrive at the scene may not call for medical help as a result. However, just because you don’t seem to have been harmed, that doesn’t mean you’re fine. You’re probably running on a great deal of adrenaline, and that could mask the signs of a severe injury. You need to call for medical help as soon as you can.
You’d be surprised at how long it can take the symptoms of some types of injuries, such as whiplash and other soft tissue injuries, to show themselves. It might take a few hours, but it could actually take as long as a few days.
If you try to “tough it out,” you might wind up doing a great deal of damage to your case. If you’ve been hurt, you’ll need to seek medical attention. That will ensure not only your injury is documented, but also the treatment that will be necessary. This will go a long way toward providing some of the evidence needed to show how much compensation you deserve.
3. If You Can, Take Pictures and Video at the Scene of the Accident
The aftermath of a truck accident can obviously be terrifying, leading to a sense of confusion. You might be in a mental fog, and that could make it difficult to think clearly. But if it is at all possible, try to use your phone to record the accident scene. This could deliver powerful proof that could greatly help your case.
Try to take pictures/video of the damage to not only your vehicle, but also the truck that caused the accident. Do the same for any skid marks you see, as well as the truck’s tires, and, if possible, the load the truck was carrying. Get pictures of any road signage as well, including traffic signals and street signs.
4. Gather Witness Information
Again, this might be a lot to ask. But if you can, try to talk to any witnesses who might have seen what happened. You don’t necessarily need to interview them (your attorney can do that), but at least get their name, phone number, e-mail and home address if possible.
5. Contact Your Insurance Company
You’re going to need to get in touch with your insurance company as soon as possible in order to be able to collect on your policy. If you fail to do this because you assume the at-fault party is going to pay your claim, that could result in your coverage being denied. Please don’t fall into this trap.
6. Do Not Speak with the Delivery Company or Their Insurance Company Before Speaking with an Attorney
Being polite is obviously an attribute everyone should have. But that doesn’t necessarily apply to a truck accident, unfortunately. While you should, of course, check to see if anyone has been injured, and you should cooperate with your insurer and the police, don’t say anything that could be construed as you accepting blame.
You’ve no doubt heard the saying, “anything you can say will be used against you.” This isn’t just applicable to someone who’s been arrested. The trucking company’s insurance carrier is going to do whatever it can to either deny you the compensation you deserve, or reduce it dramatically. Even the most seemingly innocent statement could severely damage your case.
The easiest thing to do will be to not speak to that insurance company at all. That way, you can’t make a mistake. Have your attorney speak to them on your behalf.
7. Contact Penn Kestner & McEwen to Handle Your Truck Accident Claim
A truck accident attorney with Penn Kestner & McEwen will protect you from any type of insurance company harassment. We’ve represented clients in these kinds of cases for years, so we know the tricks that insurers try to play. We also have an extensive track record of success, and we’ll work hard to help you obtain full and fair compensation.
If you would like to take advantage of our skill and knowledge, use our online contact form or call (800) 732-3070 for a free case review.
