8 Things You Should Do After A Truck Accident in Pennsylvania
Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer in Philadelphia, PA
Ideally, every truck driver should be competent to reduce the risk of deadly truck accidents. These tragic incidents are, unfortunately, all too common due to their presence on major highways and the narrow historic streets of Philadelphia.
A careless truck driver can cause a major crash, which may result in:
- Property damage,
- An accident victim who requires life-long medical care, or
- At worst, wrongful death of the truck accident victim.
We have your back if you’re wondering what to do after a truck accident! In this article, we’ll dive into the following topics:
- What are the eight important steps to take if I ever get into a truck accident?
- What compensation can I receive from a truck accident lawsuit?
- How long do I have to file a claim for my truck accident injury?
- Where can I talk to an experienced Philadelphia truck accident lawyer?
If you’ve been in a trucking accident, call our Philadelphia motor vehicle accident lawyers to discuss your case, free of charge!
What Steps Should I Take After a Trucking Accident?
You may not know what to do if you’ve been involved in a truck accident. Panic and fear can creep in. But it is best to be prepared. If you spend most of your time on the road, make sure to keep these things in mind:
- Stay at the Accident Scene
It is illegal to leave the scene of any motor vehicle accident in PA, including trucking crashes. Stay at the scene and be safe. Avoid the flow of traffic to prevent further accidents.
- Call 911
Calling 911 ensures the police, emergency medical services, and firefighters arrive and deal with the scene as necessary. Even minor fender benders require the police to secure and assess the scene and issue traffic tickets as appropriate.
In more serious truck accidents, firefighters might employ the jaws of life to extract people from the wreckage. They also may have motor vehicle fires to extinguish and toxic chemical spills to contain and clean up.
- Get Immediate Medical Attention
Even if you feel fine, have the EMTs look you over and describe what happened to you in the accident. If you:
hit your head,
were struck by an airbag, or
were jerked forward into your seatbelt,
You may have suffered injuries that are not immediately apparent. Follow their instructions if they say you need to go to the emergency room.
- Exchange Contact Information with Other Parties Involved
If possible, give your contact and insurance information to everyone involved in the truck accident and get theirs. Simply using your phone to take pictures of their insurance cards, driver’s licenses, and the license plates of their vehicles should suffice.
- Document Evidence from the Scene
Documenting the scene allows you to gather more evidence should you pursue a truck accident claim against the trucking company. Use your phone to take pictures of:
- The condition of your vehicle,
- The position and condition of the other vehicles involved in the trucking accident,
- The scene,
- Any skid marks,
- The weather conditions, and
- The other people involved, including any injuries and the condition of their clothing.
- Do Not Admit Fault, Make a Statement, or Sign Anything
Any accident lawsuit revolves around finding out who is to blame for the accident. It affects how much you can receive and how much the defendants need to pay.
Limit what you say about the accident. The less you say, the fewer mistakes you’ll make. Even in casual conversations, you could slip up and accidentally admit fault for the accident.
Take note of anything anyone else says, such as:
- “I didn’t see you!”
- “My brakes didn’t work!”
- “Sorry, I’m not good at driving at night anymore.”
Such statements may be useful in determining who was at fault for causing the truck accident. Wait until you can get a reliable Philadelphia truck accident attorney to investigate the case with you.
- Stay Off Social Media
You may be tempted to post about the truck accident on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Resist that urge. Anything you post or tweet is discoverable by the other parties in the accident and can be used against you in court.
For example, if you assert you sustained a serious neck injury but post a picture of yourself waterskiing a few days later, that undermines your claim. Similarly, if you tweet about your performance in your softball team win, that will undermine your claim.
- Talk to a Competent Truck Accident Attorney
Consult with an experienced Philadelphia truck accident attorney as soon as possible. They will meet with you, discuss your case free of charge, and help you determine whether you are entitled to compensation for the injuries you sustained in your trucking accident.
An attorney will also handle negotiations with the insurance company. No matter what image they try to portray, insurers are still businesses. Their goal is profit. They may resort to dirty tactics to shortchange you or deny your truck accident claim altogether.
Your lawyer will also determine who is at fault for causing the truck accident. This may include
- The truck operator,
- The loading company,
- The trucking company, or
- Any other individual or business entity who contributed to the accident.
What Compensation Should You Expect in a Philadelphia Truck Accident Case?
In personal injury cases, justice is served by making the defendant pay for the injuries they have caused. Damages are the legal term that covers the losses you’ve suffered, financial or otherwise. Here are among the most common damages you can expect:
- Medical bills, including past, current, and future medical treatment needed,
- Lost wages,
- Loss of future earning capacity,
- Physical and mental pain and suffering,
- Loss of enjoyment of life, and
- Emotional distress compensation.
You can file a wrongful death lawsuit if you’ve lost a loved one because of a negligent truck driver. The family may be entitled to compensation for:
- The deceased’s medical, funeral, and burial costs,
- The loss of the deceased’s financial contribution to the household, and
- The loss of the companionship and guidance of the deceased.
Our Philadelphia truck attorney has a proven track record of recovering compensation for her clients. Call our Philadelphia law office today to discuss your truck accident claim!
How Long Do I Have To File A Pennsylvania Truck Accident Claim?
Pennsylvania law states you only have two years to file a personal injury claim. The two-year clock starts ticking from the date of the accident. If you don’t file your claim immediately, the insurers can delay until the two-year deadline has passed, and you can no longer receive compensation.
The period after a truck accident can be overwhelming. We know how important it is to recover from such severe accidents. But if you wait too long, you may not get the justice you and your family deserve.
If you work with our Philadelphia accident attorneys,, we’ll handle the legal side of things so you can focus on recovery.
Call Our Experienced PA Truck Accident Lawyer Now!
Heidi G. Villari has over 20 years of experience with trucking accidents, recovering over $125 million in verdicts and settlements for her clients over her career. She works with accident reconstruction specialists, investigators, and experts in various fields to determine who was at fault for your truck accident. She reviews the evidence and builds a strong case against the responsible party or parties so they get the compensation they deserve.
Call the Villari Firm to schedule your free case consultation today if you need a Philadelphia truck accident attorney.
