Commercial vehicle and truck accident injuries can be devastating. Those affected often face serious injuries, emotional distress, and significant financial burdens. Have you been injured in an accident involving a commercial vehicle such as a delivery van, work truck, or semi? Your actions immediately following your collision can greatly impact your ability to recover compensation for your injuries and damages. Lakeland’s trusted truck accident attorneys at Brooks Law Group are weighing in on how people jeopardize their claims, and how to avoid those mistakes.
What are the top 5 mistakes people make after truck accident injuries?
The first step to avoiding mistakes after your commercial vehicle or truck accident injuries is knowing what those mistakes are. The 5 main issues we see in our legal offices across Central Florida are:
1. Failing to seek immediate medical attention for truck accident injuries
One of the most common mistakes people make after a commercial vehicle accident is avoiding medical attention. This is usually because they (mistakenly) assume they’re uninjured. Unfortunately, many serious injuries might not present symptoms for hours, days, or even weeks after your accident. Internal trauma, whiplash, and traumatic brain injuries can have lifelong ramifications if not treated promptly, so receiving medical care as soon as possible after your accident is crucial. Not only does this ensure that your injuries are diagnosed and treated, but it also creates medical records (a “paper trail”) that link your injuries to your accident. Without these records, opposing parties could argue that your conditions are unrelated to the accident or weren’t as serious as you claim.
2. Not calling the police at the scene
Calling the police at the scene of an accident is imperative. If you choose to “handle it yourself” because of pressure from the other driver or their employer, you could destroy chances of receiving compensation. An official police report is necessary for:
- documenting details of the accident
- establishing fault through the officer’s (objective) observations
- creating an official record that can be entered as evidence in a personal injury case
Always call the police after a commercial vehicle or truck accident.
3. Talking to an insurance company about your truck accident injuries without legal counsel
Insurance adjusters might appear sympathetic and eager to help after your accident, but they can actually hinder your case. After all, their primary goal is to minimize payouts and look out for their own best interest. If you sustained truck accident injuries, you should let your chosen attorney handle conversations with all insurance companies. Don’t ever:
Never share information about truck accident injuries with insurance adjusters before you speak with your attorney.
- provide a recorded statement
- accept a settlement offer
- admit fault
- speculate about the cause of the accident
- provide photos or video footage
- provide any medical records or information about your injuries
without first contacting an experienced truck accident attorney in your area.
4. Forgetting to preserve evidence
Truck accident injuries usually leave plenty of evidence, but it doesn’t help your case if you don’t preserve it! items critical to proving liability and damages in your case could include:
- photos of the accident scene, vehicle damages, and injuries
- video footage of the scene or of the accident itself (dashcams, witness videos, etc.)
- contact information of all witnesses
- information from the driver of the truck or commercial vehicle (name, employer, and insurance details)
- black box data and maintenance records of the truck or commercial vehicle
Acting quickly is necessary when it comes to preserving evidence. Make sure your attorney receives all evidence from you as soon as possible. In many cases, commercial vehicle accident attorneys will also issue a preservation letter to the owner of the truck (and employer of the driver) to prevent the destruction of records.
5. Delaying legal action for truck accident injuries
After your collision, the clock starts ticking on your eligibility for compensation. In Florida, the statute of limitations for injuries sustained in a commercial vehicle or truck accident is currently 2 years in most cases. By delaying legal action, you could:
- lose your right to file a lawsuit against the guilty party(ies)
- lose the chance to gather evidence and locate credible witnesses who remember the details of your accident
What’s more, trucking companies and their attorneys begin building a case immediately following an accident. If you wait to seek legal counsel, you could put yourself behind the curve and harm your chances of winning a settlement.
To reiterate, each of the mistakes above can be avoided. The easiest way to make sure you don’t end up putting your claim at risk? Call an established legal team in your area with experience in truck accident injuries.
Brooks Law Group works for you after your Lakeland truck accident.
We know the time immediately following an accident is stressful. Commercial vehicle and truck accident injuries are complex, and these collisions involve multiple parties and significant legal challenges. Brooks Law Group helps you avoid costly mistakes and strengthen your claim. We fight for your legal rights and best interests, while you focus on healing and recovery. With representation across Central Florida, including offices in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Tampa, we’re never too far away to give you the help you need, fast. Affording legal help isn’t a concern thanks to our free consultations. Thanks to our contingency fee, you only pay if we win your case.
Make the smart choice after your accident, and Look to Brooks!
