Road collisions happen. They just do. All it takes is a brief lapse in concentration on a highway and you’re heading sideways at 50 miles per hour. In America alone, there are over 6 million car accidents a year! Obviously, these are not all serious or fatal, but the numbers are still alarming.
It’s important, then, to know what you should do if you are involved in an accident. Especially if the accident is someone else’s fault. In this article, we are going to discuss commercial drivers and what you should do in the event of a collision with a commercial vehicle. Follow these steps if you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident.
Commercial Vehicles
As e-commerce sales soar, while more and more goods are shipped worldwide, there are now far more commercial vehicles on the road. From Amazon delivery vans to postal service trucks to 18-wheelers with heavy cargo, they are everywhere. As Rebecca, an 18 wheeler semi-truck accident lawyer in Houston said to us, “With the exponential rise in commercial road vehicles comes to a seemingly exponential rise in accidents involving them.” It seems that more commercial vehicles on the road logically lead to more accidents involving them. Now you just have to work out whether the accident was their fault or yours.
Accidents That Aren’t Your Fault
It is always frustrating and scary to be involved in a car accident. However, it is extra upsetting when the accident wasn’t your fault. When you are hit by someone else, it adds another layer of disappointment, anger, fear, and a whole host of other emotions. Luckily, when someone else is at fault for an accident it can also help you in the long run. This is because, usually, as long as you can prove it, you will be able to take them to court or press charges against them. We will discuss this at greater length shortly.
What Are Your Rights?
When anyone is involved or injured in an accident there are a few basic human rights we are all entitled to. In the very first instance, you have a right to help from the police. Emergency services should attend the scene and conduct a full and thorough investigation. You should then also have the right to view any evidence from the said investigation.
Aside from police investigation, you also have the right to medical help. Wherever you are, you have the right to be treated for any injuries caused by the accident. Plus, if it wasn’t your fault, you have the right to try and reclaim these medical costs from the person who caused the accident. This is often done at trial, where you also have the right to legal representation and a fair trial.
Seek Legal Representation
So, if you have all these rights, how do you protect them? Well, the first thing you need to do is seek legal representation. A lawyer who specializes in road collisions and personal injury will be able to start to steer you in the right direction. These lawyers become vastly experienced in their chosen field meaning they know exactly how to protect you and get what’s best for you.
It is always worth finding a lawyer that you can trust and get on with well. You don’t have to settle for the first lawyer that comes along. In fact, many practices and law firms will allow you a meeting for free to discuss your case, with no obligation to hire them afterward. So, make sure you find someone you like, even if it takes a few meetings.
Gather The Right Evidence and Prove Negligence
After this, you’ll need to build a case against the commercial vehicle driver between yourself and your legal team. In a lot of cases, commercial vehicles are fitted with security devices such as trackers and dashcams. The company may wish to hide this data from you, but your legal team and the police may well be able to get it. If you do not have this sort of evidence, there are other avenues you could follow such as CCTV and witness testimony.
The most important part of it is to make sure everything is pointed at the commercial vehicle’s driver. If you want your medical bills covered, your loss of earnings compensated, and any other compensation possible, you need to prove to a judge or jury that it was the other driver’s fault, beyond any reasonable doubt.
If you have been injured in an accident, we wish you a speedy recovery and all the very best in fighting your case. Make sure you gather all the evidence and find yourself a great lawyer.