How To Win Compensation If Your Car Is Hit By A Truck?
Your car getting hit by a truck is never pretty sight, and even if neither party suffers any injuries or fatalities by a measure of good fortune, the damage to your vehicle can be significant. Coupled with any losses owing to the downtime when your vehicle is in the shop, it is only fair that you are adequately compensated for the mishap.
However, winning compensation when a truck hits your car is far from straightforward, and claimants have to stay on top of things, and take a few essential steps in order to see any compensation from this, often horrendous experience.
In this article, we lay down certain rules and best practices to follow immediately after your vehicle gets hit by a truck or meets with an accident involving a truck.
1. Call Emergency Services
The first thing you need to do in the case of an accident involving a truck, or any accident for that matter is to contact 911. Intimating the police regarding the incident right away not only helps convey important details but can also help you avail emergency medical services which can be crucial at the time.
Often cops are on the scene, they will perform a preliminary investigation, take photographs, and speak to witnesses, all of which can be crucial in making your case.
2. Seek Medical Care
Even if you’ve been fortunate enough to escape any serious injury, it is pertinent to seek medical care right away, to identify, and take care of any hidden, or delayed injuries that may surface after a period of time.
Seeking medical care immediately further helps you document any injuries, and creates a strong link between the incident, and its impact. This will be crucial when seeking an insurance settlement, or while trying to make your case to a jury.
3. Contact an Attorney Specialised in Truck Accidents
After recovering from the initial trauma, and having a thorough medical check-up, it’s time to get in touch with an attorney, preferably someone with extensive experience in dealing with truck accident cases.
Once you engage an attorney to represent you, and provide them the necessary information, almost all communications will be routed through them, and an experienced practitioner will know perfectly well what the next step should be.
According to the truck accident lawyers of Abels & Annes, a seasoned attorney will know where to seek evidence, how to collect eyewitness statements and make a case in pursuit of what the victims rightfully deserve.
4. Understand the Types of Damages
If you’re involved in a truck accident there are three major types of damages, or compensation that can be claimed, depending on the nature, cause, and severity.
- Economic Damages – These are essentially the losses you experience as a result of the accident, and includes medical expenses, lost wages or earning capacity, out of pocket expenses, etc.
- Non-Economic Damages – Victims can also seek damages for non-financial aspects, such as the trauma suffered, emotional distress, disability or disfigurement, and more, for which there cannot be a set monetary figure.
- Punitive Damages – In cases of gross negligence, or serious misconduct, the court can impose fines on the guilty party as a punishment far exceeding the economic, and non-economic claims.
Final Words
While the pursuit of compensation for your losses, and troubles is certainly filled with hoops and hurdles, justice is well within reach for all those who make the effort.
With the right approach, a little bit of effort, and a dedicated attorney by your side, you can emerge from an unfortunate accident unscathed, at least when it comes to your finances.