Michael D. Waks Long Beach Personal Injury Lawyer & Car Accident Attorney

A Lawyer You Can Trust

No Fee Unless You Win

Call888.394.1174

Available 24/7

  • Home
  • Attorney Profile
  • Reviews
  • Practice Areas
    • Personal Injury Lawyer Long Beach
    • Personal Injury Lawyer Cardiff
    • Motor Vehicle
      • Auto & Car Accidents
      • Bus Accidents
      • Distracted Driving
      • DUI Victim
      • Motorcycle Accidents
      • Truck Accidents
      • Wrongful Death
    • Premises Liability
      • Construction Accidents
      • Premises Liability
      • Electrical Accidents
      • Private Property Accidents
      • Slip and Fall Accident
      • Swimming Pool Accidents
    • Other Practice Areas
      • Brain Injury
      • Burn Injury
      • Bicycle Accidents
      • Boating Accidents
      • Dog Bite Accidents
      • Legal Malpractice
      • Pedestrian Accidents
      • Product Liability
      • Sexual Assault
      • Spinal Injury
  • Case Results
  • Videos
  • Resources
    • California Law Enforcement Information
    • California Personal Injury Laws and Statutory Rules
    • Other Resources
    • Personal Injury Law FAQs
    • Personal Injury Resources
    • Physical & Emotional Recovery Support
    • Southern California Courts
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

9 Steps to Take After Being Injured in a Truck Accident

February 6, 2019 by Michael Waks

Steps to Take After Being Injured in a Truck AccidentEvery car accident is a nerve-racking event, but collisions involving large trucks tend to be especially traumatic. Due to their immense size and weight, 18-wheelers can cause debilitating injuries and devastating property damage when they crash into smaller vehicles.

It’s not easy to think clearly in the aftermath of a truck accident, but you must be careful about what you say and do at the scene and over the weeks that follow. The insurance company will be looking for any possible reason to deny or reduce the value of your claim.

Read on to learn nine steps to take after a large truck crash to protect your legal rights and financial future:

1. Call the Police

You should contact the police after any collision, but it’s especially important to do so after a wreck involving serious property damage or injuries. An officer can divert traffic away from the scene to prevent subsequent accidents. Police can also create an official report that includes details about where and when the crash occurred, the apparent cause, and perhaps statements from eyewitnesses.

Officers can also conduct sobriety tests to find out if any of the drivers involved are intoxicated. If another motorist fails a breathalyzer, this would almost certainly work in your favor. Your attorney will be able to use the test results to prove negligence, and it may also be possible to seek punitive damages after an accident involving a drunk driver.

2. Take Photos

Photographs of the scene can be valuable evidence of both liability and damages. Be sure to take pictures of:

  • Property Damage: Take closeup shots of any property damage, and don’t forget to capture photos of the insides of vehicles to show deployed airbags.
  • Injuries: Your attorney must be able to tie your injuries to the accident and prove their severity. Taking pictures at the scene may prevent the insurance company from arguing that your injuries were caused by something else, they existed before the crash, or they are not as serious as you are claiming.
  • The Positions of Vehicles: If the truck driver or insurance company disputes liability, your attorney may bring in an accident reconstruction expert to investigate the cause. Photos that show the positions of vehicles can provide valuable insight into what happened in the moments leading up to the crash.
  • The Road Conditions: If poor road conditions played a role in the collision, it’s important that you document them before they are fixed.
  • The Weather Conditions: All motorists have a duty to maintain a safe speed at all times. In some circumstances, such as during or just after a rainstorm, failing to drive under the speed limit might be considered negligent. Fortunately, most commercial trucks are equipped with electronic data recorders (EDRs), or “black boxes.” These devices track information about the vehicle’s top speed, average speed, and brake usage. If it was raining but the truck driver failed to reduce his or her speed, your lawyer may be able to use black box data and photos that show the weather conditions to prove negligence.
  • License Plates and Driver’s Licenses: Take pictures of the license plates of all vehicles involved in the crash, as well as the driver’s licenses of all motorists.

Before taking photos, be sure to activate your camera’s timestamp function. Once you leave the scene and your health has stabilized, save the pictures on multiple hard drives or a cloud drive in case they accidentally get deleted.

3. Record All Drivers’ Insurance and Contact Information

If your accident was caused by a negligent truck driver, there’s a good chance that his or her employer can be held liable for your medical bills and other damages. Don’t forget to record the employer’s insurance information as well as the trucker’s personal insurance details. Also, write down his or her full name, physical address, phone number, and email address.

4. Record Eyewitness Contact Details

If there’s a liability dispute, your attorney might use eyewitness statements to support your claim. Write down the contact information of anyone who saw the crash, and if they give you permission, use your cell phone to record their statements about what happened.

5. Look for Surveillance Cameras

If there are any businesses nearby, their surveillance cameras may have recorded the accident. Ask to view the footage, record it with your cell phone, and request a copy.

6. Visit a Doctor

Putting off your doctor’s visit could have major consequences for your personal injury claim. If you wait too long, the claims adjuster might argue that your own negligence caused your injuries to worsen. Delaying treatment could also make it more difficult for your lawyer to tie your injuries to the crash.

7. Call a Truck Accident Attorney

Once your health has stabilized, your first call should be to a personal injury lawyer. Your attorney will want to perform an immediate investigation to gather evidence while it is still available and unaltered. Your lawyer can also handle correspondence with the insurance company and help you avoid critical mistakes such as providing a recorded statement or accepting a low settlement.

8. Track Any Expenses Related to Your Accident or Injury

Under California law, personal injury victims can pursue compensation for any economic and non-economic damages they incur as a result of their accident. Besides medical bills and lost income, you may also be entitled to compensation for child care, transportation to and from doctor’s appointments, vehicle and home modifications, and domestic help. Be sure to keep any receipts, invoices, and documentation related to costs you incur due to your accident or injuries.

9. Keep a Personal Injury Journal

How are your injuries affecting your life and your relationships? What social and familial activities can you no longer enjoy? Keeping a journal about the hardships you are facing may help your attorney prove non-economic damages such as emotional distress and pain and suffering.

What NOT to Do After a Truck Accident

1. Admitting Fault

Admitting fault could influence the police officer’s assessment of what happened, which can affect the accident report. This might harm your case even if it turns out that another driver was negligent. It’s best to avoid admitting fault and instead stick to objective facts about the collision.

2. Using Social Media

Publishing videos, photos, or text posts about your accident, injury, or case could wind up hurting your claim. You should disable your social media accounts while your case is ongoing. At the very least, set your profiles to “private,” don’t accept new connection requests, and tell friends and family not to post anything about you.

3. Signing Paperwork from the Insurance Company

Don’t sign anything until your lawyer has reviewed it. The insurance company will want to settle as soon as possible and for as little compensation as possible. Once you accept a settlement, you will not be able to seek further compensation. Your attorney can help you determine a fair settlement amount that accounts for all damages.

Discuss Your Case with a Truck Accident Lawyer in Long Beach

Your Injuries Are Personal to Me

Attorney Michael D. Waks has a track record of success in complex, high-stakes claims involving some of the largest motor carriers and insurance companies in California. Michael will evaluate your case for free and help you determine the most strategic way to proceed. Call (562) 206-1939 or use our Contact Form to set up a consultation.

Download Our Car Accident Emergency .PDF

The average driver is involved in a crash about once every 17 years. It’s important that you’re always prepared for the worst-case scenario. Our Car Accident Emergency .PDF can remind you of the most important information to gather at the scene. Click Here to download it for free, and be sure to keep it in your glovebox.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Michael Waks
Michael Waks
Michael Waks is an aggressive advocate for people who have suffered because of someone else’s actions. Michael decided to become a personal injury lawyer when, while clerking at a legal defense firm during law school, he witnessed and was infuriated by asbestos manufacturers spending millions to avoid taking responsibility for the egregious injuries they caused. Immediately after passing the bar, Michael opened his own firm in Long Beach, CA to help the victims of personal injury accidents get every benefit owed them under the law.
Michael Waks
Latest posts by Michael Waks (see all)
  • How to Help Your Loved One Cope with a Spinal Cord Injury - October 27, 2021
  • How Can I Prove a Motorist Fell Asleep in Traffic? - October 20, 2021
  • Filing a Truck Accident Claim? Avoid These Common Mistakes - October 13, 2021
Share here...
Avatar for Michael Waks

About Michael Waks

Michael Waks is an aggressive advocate for people who have suffered because of someone else’s actions. Michael decided to become a personal injury lawyer when, while clerking at a legal defense firm during law school, he witnessed and was infuriated by asbestos manufacturers spending millions to avoid taking responsibility for the egregious injuries they caused. Immediately after passing the bar, Michael opened his own firm in Long Beach, CA to help the victims of personal injury accidents get every benefit owed them under the law.

Law Office of Michael D. Waks

Get a Free Consultation

  • Submission of this form does not create an attorney-client relationship.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Testimonials

Michael represented me in a personal injury case and I can’t recommend him enough. From the very first consultation he made sure that I was always aware of my options and up to speed with every aspect of my case. He answered all my questions and used his experience and expertise to help guide my decisions instead of trying to make them all for me. He not only ensured that the settlement I received was more than enough to cover all my bills and expenses but he also made sure I had piece of mind and would be taken care of going forward.

– Eric G.‎
Read More Testimonials

Categories

  • Bicycle Accidents
  • Boating Accidents
  • Brain Injuries
  • Burn Accidents
  • Bus Accidents
  • Car Accidents
  • Construction Site Accidents
  • Disability
  • Distracted Driving Accident
  • Dog Bites
  • DUI Victim
  • Electrical Accidents
  • Government Entity Claims
  • Legal Malpractice
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • Pedestrian Accidents
  • Personal Injury
  • Premises Liability
  • Private Property Accidents
  • Product Liability
  • Sexual Assault
  • Slip and Fall
  • Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Train Accidents
  • Truck Accidents
  • Uncategorized
  • Uninsured Motorists
  • Wrongful Death
– BACK TO TOP –

Visit Us

Long Beach Office
1 World Trade Center, Suite 800
Long Beach, California 90831
P: 562-206-1939
F: 562-676-4388
Get Directions

Cardiff Office
160 Chesterfield Dr., Suite 200
Cardiff, CA 92007
760-767-8031
Get Directions

Call Us

888-394-1174
SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION
Personal injury lawyer Long Beach
Car accident lawyer Long Beach
Google Review
  • review_star
  • review_star
  • review_star
  • review_star
  • review_star

Michael Waks is The attorney you want to resolve your accident issues, period. He is knowledgeable, efficient, and gets maximum results when you are injured.

— Joe M
  • facebook-app-symbol
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • youtube
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Scholarship
  • Sitemap

This website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as providing formal legal advice.

Copyright © 2022 by Michael D. Waks Long Beach Personal Injury Lawyer & Car Accident Attorney

Website & SEO By Sutton Digital Marketing