What To Do After a Truck Wreck
Texas has one of the highest numbers of commercial truck wrecks in the U.S. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were 16,896 crashes, 619 fatalities, and 8,914 injuries in 2020 alone.
This is significantly higher than with other states like Pennsylvania, where there were 133 fatalities and 2,421 injuries in 2020, and New York, where there 124 fatalities and 3,783 injuries in 2020.
Therefore, you always need to be on the lookout when you’re on the road in the Lone Star state.
Read on to learn more about what you should know if you find yourself in a commercial truck wreck crash.
Why Do Truck Wrecks Happen?
Truck wrecks usually happen because of the following reasons:
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- Careless overtaking and speeding. Many truck drivers are under tremendous pressure to reach their destinations on time. As such, they often drive carelessly fast, which makes it difficult for them to slow down when they get too close to other cars. This can result in catastrophic crashes and injuries.
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- Fatigue. Truck drivers are often on the road for hours on end. As such, they often don’t get quality sleep, making them more fatigued than they should be when on the road. Fatigue can cause them to lose concentration or fall asleep while driving, leading to truck wrecks.
- Mechanical defects in the truck. Oftentimes, a truck driver’s carelessness is not the cause of a truck wreck. Rather, there’s something about the truck or trailer that led to the truck crash, such as faulty brakes or defective tires.
What To Do After a Truck Wreck
You need to do the following after a commercial truck wreck so you can protect yourself and get the compensation you deserve:
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- Get to a safe area. After the truck wreck has happened, try to get as far away from traffic as possible. Then, pause to check if you’ve been injured and what the extent of your injuries are. You should also see if anyone else was involved in the wreck and see if you can help them.
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- Call 911. Call 911 to report the truck wreck and wait for the police and ambulance to arrive. Once the ambulance arrives, be sure to get medical assistance.
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- Start gathering evidence. To get the compensation you deserve for your injuries, start gathering evidence immediately. Get a copy of the police report, take lots of pictures of the scene and vehicle damages, and talk to the other driver or drivers to exchange contact and insurance information.
- Talk to your truck wreck lawyer and insurance company. Finally, make sure to hire an experienced and qualified truck wreck lawyer so you can get the compensation you deserve.
Limitation Period
According to section 16.003 of Texas’ Civil Practice and Remedies Code, you need to file your claim no more than two years after the date of the truck wreck. But of course you will want to contact an experienced and skilled lawyer promptly, since the trucking company likely has their insurance company, investigators and lawyers on speed-dial, and you do not want the evidence to “go away” because you did not have someone looking out for your interests.
Contact the Herd Law Firm Today
We at the Herd Law Firm have over 30 years of experience in commercial truck and vehicle wrecks, insurance coverage issues, and other serious injury or damage claims. Contact our truck wreck lawyers today for a free and confidential legal consultation.
