Car accidents can be scary, but even more terrifying are truck accidents. Trucks weigh much more than passenger cars, even when they aren’t loaded with cargo. The trucks from construction sites can be massive, with cement and building materials that weigh them down.
If you are involved in a collision with a truck, you will be lucky if you escape with minimal injuries. Most people involved in accidents with commercial trucks will suffer from serious and quite possibly life-altering injuries.
Truck accidents in NY happen all the time, so you should know what to do if you or a loved one are involved in a truck accident.
7 Steps to Follow After a NYC Truck Accident
Large trucks weigh more than 10,000 pounds and can cause serious damage when involved in a collision. In 2020, 4,842 trucks were involved in fatal crashes. Because of their weight, any accident with one of these behemoths will likely result in extreme injuries or death.
If you are involved in an accident with a large truck on or near a construction site, you will have hefty medical bills to pay. You will likely be out of work for an extended period of time and need compensation for your lost wages and earning potential. These steps can guide you on the right course of action in this devastating situation.
1. Get to Safety
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In the initial moments after the accident, you should do your best to get to safety. If possible, move your vehicle out of the way. This will prevent secondary accidents from occurring.
2. Call 911
The next step is to call for emergency services to get an ambulance and the police to come to the accident scene. If you or any passengers are injured, you need medical treatment immediately. If your vehicle is so badly damaged that it could catch fire, you should get out while you can. However, if you can’t move, let emergency services help you out.
3. Get Checked Out
You may think you only have minor injuries, but you’re not out of the woods yet. Many injuries are beneath the surface and aren’t in the form of aches, broken bones, or bloody wounds. For these reasons, you absolutely must not refuse medical treatment.
If all is well, you’ll have a clean bill of health and have more to be thankful for. However, if you have a brain injury or internal bleeding, you’ll be glad it was found quickly so you could get the treatment you need. The treatment will also create a document of your medical expenses to help you make an injury claim.
4. Get Information and Evidence
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Another important step after an accident with a truck is to exchange insurance information. If the truck driver isn’t forthcoming with the information, the police report will have everything you need. Additionally, you’ll want to document the accident scene as best as you can through photos and videos. You should also get the contact information of any witnesses that saw the accident happen.
5. Get a Copy of The Police Report
In the state of New York, you are required by law to call the police when an accident leads to injury or death. When you have a collision with a construction truck, even if you feel fine, you will most definitely want a police report as important evidence that can back up your claim.
In a collision with a construction truck at a lower speed, you may have major damage to your vehicle but check out fine medically. The truck driver may suggest keeping the police out of it, but this could put you in a difficult legal and financial situation later on.
6. Notify Your Insurance
Even if you are not filing a claim with your insurance, you will need to call them. Insurance companies require every policyholder to report any accident, big or small, regardless of fault.
7. Get in Touch with a Lawyer
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Construction trucks can cause major damage in an accident. Your medical bills, vehicle, and job will all be impacted. You may even have injuries that affect your future earnings. It’s wise to consult an experienced attorney who will stand by your side and help you get the justice you deserve.
Who Will Be Held Liable for the Damages?
Every construction site is different, and so is every accident. There could be several at-fault parties in this kind of situation. The driver of the truck, the company that owns the truck, the manufacturer of the truck, the company that makes repairs and services the truck, the loading company, or even a third-party whose actions could have been the catalyst to the crash.
Liability may not always be easy to determine in construction truck accidents. This is because when multiple parties are involved, they will try to shift the blame.
How a Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
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The roadways in NYC often have big construction trucks entering and exiting in peculiar places. Perhaps there was no indication they were turning or suddenly appeared without warning in front of your vehicle without any time to stop.
No matter what has happened, when you have an accident with one of these trucks or even a regular cargo-moving truck, you need an experienced lawyer to help with your case. As multiple parties will likely be liable, they will all try to get out of it. Trucking companies have lots of experience fighting claims that injured drivers make against them.
When you work with a truck accident lawyer, you’ll be better able to focus on your recovery while getting the compensation you need to regain control of your life.
