What to Do After a Truck Accident: Legal Advice from a Truck Accident Attorney in Salem, OR
A truck accident can change your life in an instant, leaving you with serious injuries, financial stress, and a long road to recovery. Knowing what to do next is critical whether you're a truck driver or another motorist involved in a collision. From dealing with insurance companies to understanding liability, the process can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to go through it alone. With the right legal guidance from a truck accident attorney in Salem, OR, like the team at Walsh & Associates, PC, you can protect your rights and secure the compensation you deserve. In this article, we’ll break down the essential steps to take after an accident, explain how fault is determined, and discuss when it’s time to seek legal help.
Essential Steps to Take Right After a Truck Accident
The moments following a truck accident are overwhelming, but what you do next can significantly impact your claim. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:
1. Prioritize Safety and Call for Help
If possible, move to a safe location and call 911. Even if the accident seems minor, having law enforcement at the scene ensures an official police report is filed—an essential document for your claim.
2. Get Medical Attention
Even if you feel fine, injuries from truck accidents can take hours or even days to become apparent. Seeking medical treatment immediately helps document your condition and prevents insurance companies from arguing that your injuries weren’t accident-related.
3. Gather Evidence at the Scene
If you can, take photos of:
· The vehicles involved, including license plates and damage
· Road conditions, weather, and traffic signs
· Any visible injuries
· Skid marks or debris on the road
Understanding Liability in Truck Accidents
Truck accident cases can be more complex than standard car accidents due to the multiple parties involved. Liability could fall on:
· The Truck Driver: If fatigue, distraction, or reckless driving played a role.
· The Trucking Company: If they pressured drivers to violate hours-of-service regulations or failed to maintain the truck properly.
· A Manufacturer: If a defective truck part contributed to the crash.
· A Third-Party Loader: If improperly loaded cargo caused the accident.
The Role of a Truck Accident Lawyer in Protecting Your Rights
Truck accident claims involve complex state and federal regulations, making it difficult to navigate on your own. Here's how a truck accident lawyer in Salem, OR, can help:
· Investigating the Accident: Lawyers work with accident reconstruction experts to determine exactly what happened.
· Handling Insurance Companies: Insurance adjusters often try to pressure victims into quick, lowball settlements. A truck accident attorney in Salem, OR, ensures you don’t settle for less than you deserve.
· Proving Damages: From medical bills to lost wages and pain and suffering, a lawyer will fight to maximize your compensation.
When to Seek Legal Help After a Truck Accident
If you've been in a truck accident, you should contact a truck accident lawyer in Salem, OR, if you’ve suffered serious injuries, face mounting medical bills, or are struggling with lost wages. Legal help is essential if the trucking company or insurer denies liability, delays your claim, or offers a low settlement.
Injured in a Truck Accident? Get the Legal Support You Deserve
If you’ve been in a truck accident, don’t wait to get legal help. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to collect evidence and build a strong case. Walsh & Associates, PC, has extensive experience representing truck accident victims in Salem, OR. Contact us today and let us handle the legal process while you focus on recovery.