Accidentes de tráficoTexas is home to many large, crowded highways. While driving on these roads makes traveling convenient, it can also put you and others at risk. In 2022, car accidents injured nearly 19,000 people and killed over 4,400. Many of these accidents involved commercial vehicles like vans, buses, and trucks.
Speak with The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C. if you were in a car accident with a commercial vehicle. These accidents can have drastic consequences, and you might be eligible for compensation for your injuries.
1. Get to Safety
Disabled vehicles and debris can block roads and create hazards for other drivers. Moreover, accidents tend to distract drivers, which can lead to more collisions.
Your first step after any accident is to prevent further harm from occurring. If possible, steer your vehicle to the side of the road. Next, get out of your car and move a safe distance away from traffic.
2. Notify Law Enforcement
The next step of the commercial vehicle accident procedure is to call 911 once you are in a safe location. You should report the accident and request an ambulance if anyone appears to have injuries.
Law enforcement should arrive to investigate the scene. During this time, the officer may speak with you and other involved parties about the accident. Provide any information they ask for and explain what happened.
The officers will prepare a final crash report at the end of their investigation. It will outline who was involved, what happened, and any factors that may have contributed to the accident.
3. Exchange Information with the Other Driver
Calmly speak with the other driver if possible. Request their name, employer, address, phone number, and insurance information. You can also ask to take a photo of their driver’s license. Have your information ready, as the other driver will likely ask to see it as well.
While you should be polite during this process, never be forgiving or admit fault. The other side might try to avoid liability if you appear to take any responsibility for the crash.
4. Take Photos and Videos of the Scene
Your insurance company and attorney will handle the legal process for you, but they can only do so if they have evidence. You can help gather this evidence by taking photos and videos of the vehicles, road conditions, and other relevant factors.
In rare cases, the other party might try to prevent you from taking photos of their license plate or vehicle. If this happens, remind them that taking these pictures in public is legal. Otherwise, you can wait for law enforcement to arrive to feel more comfortable during this step.
5. Speak with Witnesses
It’s common for other drivers to pull over and assist after an accident. Some accidents happen in urban areas, attracting crowds of people. While you may be embarrassed to see so many people watching, these witnesses can help you recover compensation after your accident.
Look for anyone who may have seen your accident. Ask if they will share their contact information and give a witness statement. You may be able to use this statement later to show that the other driver is responsible for your injuries.
6. Seek Medical Care
You can leave the accident scene after law enforcement completes the initial investigation. While you may want to go straight to work or home, you should visit a doctor for a thorough exam.
You might think that an injury by a commercial vehicle is obvious, but this is not the case. Some injuries, like concussions and internal bleeding, aren’t always apparent after an accident. But without fast treatment, these conditions can become worse or even life-threatening.
Seeing a doctor will help identify and treat any injuries due to the crash. What’s more, your visit will create medical records that can strengthen your request for compensation.
7. Work with a Texas Personal Injury Attorney
Hiring an attorney is the best decision you can make after an accident. Your lawyer will handle the entire legal process, so you can focus on feeling better.
Some of the ways an attorney can help include:
- Gathering evidence,
- Reporting the accident to your insurance company,
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit against the other party,
- Negotiating with the commercial driver’s insurer,
- Representing you in court if necessary.
Choosing the right attorney is crucial. You need a lawyer who understands Texas traffic and personal injury law. Moreover, your lawyer should have a record of getting clients favorable results and fair compensation.
Few law firms compare to The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C. We have helped countless Texans with commercial car accident claims. With over 85 years of experience, our firm knows how to hold drivers accountable and get just compensation for our clients.
FAQs
We do our best to answer any questions you have about your case. We look forward to hearing from you, but in the meantime, here are answers to common questions we receive from clients.
Who is Responsible for a Commercial Vehicle Accident?
Many parties can be liable after a car accident with a commercial vehicle. These can include:
- Drivers,
- Employers,
- Mechanics,
- Manufacturers, and
- Government entities.
Your attorney will investigate the cause of the crash to see which parties bear responsibility. In some cases, you may need to pursue several parties to get full compensation for your damages.
How Much Compensation Can I Recover?
There is no limit on the amount of compensation you can receive after the accident. Generally, you request compensation to cover the total cost of the accident. That means you have to suffer some type of damage to request compensation.
Examples of damages in commercial vehicle accidents include:
- Gastos médicos,
- Daños materiales,
- Dolor y sufrimiento, y
- Lost earnings.
Your damages can include current and future harm. Because these numbers can be hard to determine, it’s best to work with an attorney to calculate the total value of your claim.
How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim?
All legal actions must be filed within the statute of limitations. If you miss this deadline, the court may dismiss your claim and prevent you from getting compensation.
Under Texas law, you have two years to file a claim after a car accident with a commercial vehicle. There are only a few exceptions to this rule, so work with an attorney as soon as possible to avoid missing this deadline.
Schedule a Free Consultation
The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C., knows how to get results for our clients. Our attorneys have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and court awards. Best of all, we never charge a fee unless we get compensation for you.
Call today to schedule your case evaluation.
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Michael Zimmerman
Michael nació en Houston, Texas. Estudió en las universidades de Baylor y Texas State, donde se licenció en Ciencias en 1987. Se especializó en Biología y en Química. Terminó su educación legal en Texas Southern University en 1990, obteniendo un Doctorado en Derecho de la Escuela de Derecho Thurgood Marshall. Fue admitido en el Colegio de Abogados del Estado de Texas en 1990.
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