What To Do Immediately Following A Tractor-Trailer Accident

The moments immediately following an accident involving a large truck can be some of the most heartstopping in a person’s life, particularly if they are severely injured. Thinking about potential legal action is likely the last thing on your mind – but at the same time, there are simple steps that you can take to ensure that you preserve the most evidence and overall the highest chance to recover money damages for what you have been through.

Seek Medical Treatment – No Matter What

While some people do not feel any immediate negative effects after an accident, it is always a good idea for a person who has just been in a traffic crash to seek medical treatment regardless. Certain types of injuries, such as soft tissue injuries like neck sprains and strains, may not be immediately apparent, and even injuries that appear instantly may worsen over time.

In a tractor-trailer accident, your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance will almost certainly be insufficient to cover your medical bills, but it is nonetheless also important to keep in mind that your PIP insurance is only usable if you seek medical assistance within 14 days of the accident. It is generally not a good idea to neglect any avenue.

Collect Information

In some instances this may not be safe, but in general, if you have been injured in an accident with a large tractor-trailer, any information you are able to collect might affect a personal injury claim you choose to make in the future. Holding another party liable for harm they have allegedly caused you requires that you be able to show three things: that they owed you a duty to exercise reasonable care, that they breached that duty via their actions, and that you suffered harm as a result.

Any piece of information, from the police report to a witness statement to accident reconstruction, can help or harm your case. However, it is equally crucial to not share any more information than necessary with your insurer. Too much information may lead an insurer to contest or deny your claim.

Call A Tampa Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorney

A tractor-trailer accident can leave long-lasting injuries on both the body and the mind. If you have just experienced one, you have the right to try and recover damages for what you have been through. A Tampa tractor-trailer accident attorney from the Rinaldo Law Group can offer compassionate and dedicated representation during a time that can be more overwhelming than most. Call our office today for a free consultation.

Source:

leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699/0627/Sections/0627.736.html