In The Minutes After A Tractor-Trailer Accident
Being involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer is a frightening event. In the minutes immediately after impact, the world seems to slow down, and many people report feeling as though things are happening to someone else while they look on. However, the moments immediately following a serious accident are among the most important, both in terms of seeking medical help and gathering the evidence you may need to build a case against the person who caused the accident.
More Serious Injuries & Fatalities Likely
The most recent available data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) estimates that in a given year, roughly 124,000 accidents occurred in which a large truck caused an injury or fatality. This is generally a higher proportion of casualties than one sees with standard cars, mostly because tractor-trailers are so much larger than the average private passenger vehicle. A tractor-trailer weighing double the amount of a person’s vehicle is more likely to cause serious injury to that vehicle’s driver.
In addition to injuries and deaths occurring more often in tractor-trailer accidents, the injuries that do happen tend to be more severe. Conditions like fractured spinal vertebrae or spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and organ damage happen more often in these accidents than, say, broken bones or whiplash (though of course, the variables in any auto accident means that several different types of injuries can occur at once).
Safety, Law Enforcement, Legal Help
Given the potential danger in a tractor-trailer accident, the moments immediately following a crash must be spent in getting off the roadway and to a safe place. Law enforcement and medical personnel should be called next – seeking immediate medical help is, of course, a good idea after any crash, and Florida law requires that any accident involving a commercial vehicle receive a police report.
Something else you may be able to do at the moment is try to collect evidence. While you should not openly discuss the accident with anyone else involved, it may be possible to speak to witnesses, take photographs or find other relevant information that can help your case. However, it is crucial that you not attempt to negotiate any kind of settlement with the other driver, and certainly to never admit any fault. Once your safety is assured and the police are at the scene, an attorney should be your next call.
Contact A Tampa Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorney
A tractor-trailer accident is an event that can result in lifelong injury and serious financial hardship. If you have been injured in this type of crash, doing the right things after the accident can help to improve your chances of prevailing in a suit against the driver (or their employer). A Tampa tractor-trailer accident attorney from the Rinaldo Law Group can help you have the best chance possible at financial recovery. Call our office today to schedule a free consultation.
Source:
fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/large-truck-and-bus-crash-facts-2021
