A Columbus Truck Accident Lawyer Explains What To Do After Tractor Trailer Collision
Tractor-trailer accidents present serious injury risks for everyone involved. While passenger vehicle occupants are most likely to suffer catastrophic injuries, truck drivers face injury risks as well. After a tractor-trailer accident, there are steps that everyone involved must take to protect their legal rights. Our Columbus truck accident lawyer explains:
If You Were Driving or Riding in Another Vehicle
If you were driving or riding in another vehicle, the first and most important step you need to take after a truck accident is to seek treatment for your injuries. Go to the emergency room if necessary, or contact us so that we can provide you with a referral. Once you receive a diagnosis and treatment, you need to follow your doctor’s advice, and you need to avoid doing anything that could jeopardize or unnecessarily prolong your recovery.
As soon as you are able to do so, you should also write down everything you can remember about the collision. What was the sequence of events? Were any other vehicles involved? Do you remember the logo on the side of the trailer? No detail is too small, and the more information you can provide your Columbus truck accident lawyer, the better.
Once you take a moment to take some notes, your next step should be to contact a lawyer. Contacting a lawyer promptly serves two important purposes: (i) it gives you the opportunity to get the advice you need to avoid costly mistakes, and (ii) it gives your lawyer an opportunity to investigate the cause of the truck accident before critical evidence disappears.
If You Were Driving the Tractor-Trailer
If you were driving the tractor-trailer, you should take all of the steps we just discussed. While people often assume that the truck driver must be responsible when a truck is involved in a collision, this is not necessarily the case. Truck defects, cargo loading issues and other drivers’ negligence can play a role as well. If you have a claim against another party that is responsible for the accident, you will need a lawyer to take legal action on your behalf as soon as possible.
Importantly, there are additional steps you should take as well. Since you were working at the time of the accident, you may also have a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. This could be true even if you were at fault in the accident. Among other steps, you will need to report the accident to your employer; and, once you receive emergency care, you will need to find a workers compensation doctor for your ongoing treatment.
Talk to a Columbus Truck Accident Lawyer for Free 24/7
If you’ve been injured in a tractor-trailer accident in Ohio, we can explain everything you need to know. We provide free consultations for all claims, and we do not charge any fees or costs unless we win. To speak with a Columbus truck accident lawyer at Malek & Malek Law Firm in confidence, call 888-444-7440 or tell us how we can reach you online now.