What to Expect After an Accident with a Commercial Vehicle or Truck in Austin, Texas
Being involved in any kind of vehicle accident can be a stressful and overwhelming experience. However, when the other vehicle involved is a large commercial truck or semi-truck, the situation becomes even more serious and complex. The size and weight differences between passenger cars and commercial trucks means that the occupants of the smaller vehicle are likely to suffer more severe injuries in a crash.
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in an accident with a commercial truck or vehicle in Austin, Texas, you probably have a lot of questions about what happens next. This article will provide an overview of what to expect after such an incident, your options for seeking compensation, and finding an experienced vehicle accident attorney to handle your truck injury claim.
Seeking Medical Attention
The priority after any accident is to get the medical attention you require. Because of the force in a semi-truck collision, injuries like broken bones, head trauma, spinal cord damage, and internal organ damage are common. You may be in shock initially and not realize the severity of your injuries until days or even weeks later. Some severe injuries can even turn fatal if they are not properly treated in time.
It’s crucial that you are thoroughly evaluated by emergency responders at the accident scene and then receive follow-up treatment from your healthcare providers. Describe all your symptoms and pains so that doctors can diagnose your injuries accurately and decide on the right treatment protocols. Follow all their recommendations closely even after you are discharged. Your medical records will serve as evidence when filing your claim later on.
Collecting Evidence from the Scene
In the aftermath of the collision, be sure to gather as much verifiable evidence about how the crash occurred. If possible, take photos of the position of the vehicles, the extent of property damage, any skid marks on the road, witness statements, and so on. All this can help establish factors like speeding or reckless driving by the truck driver.
Also, request copies of the official crash reports that will be prepared by police officers who respond to the scene. These reports contain key details about issues which may have caused the accident, like drunk driving, failure to stop, etc. Make sure all such evidence is preserved safely.
Exploring Your Legal Options
Crashes involving large commercial trucks often lead to extensive injuries and other losses for the victims. You have the right to hold the responsible parties liable for the damages. There are two ways you can pursue financial compensation - by filing an injury claim with your own auto insurance provider or the trucking company’s insurer, or by suing the driver and their employer through personal injury litigation.
Insurance Settlements
One of the easiest ways to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost income, vehicle repairs, etc., is through insurance claim settlements. The commercial truck should have higher policy limits than a private automobile. Find out what coverage is available so that you can claim adequate damages. Consult a truck accident lawyer to assess the value of your injury claim.
Personal Injury Lawsuits
Always speak to a personal injury attorney before dealing with an insurance company. Insurance providers try to minimize payouts whenever possible. So, you may be forced to file a personal injury lawsuit against the trucking company responsible for the crash. Through such litigation, your truck accident lawyer can help claim rightful compensation not limited to insurance limits - including pain and suffering damages.
It’s advisable to pursue settlement negotiations simultaneously and consider litigation only if an acceptable insurance settlement cannot be obtained. Going to court can be expensive, stress inducing, and time-consuming. An attorney experienced in trucking accident cases can guide you on the best legal course for maximum compensation through either settlement or litigation.
What Kinds of Compensation Can You Receive?
Some of the damages you can seek compensation for through insurance claims or personal injury lawsuits after an Austin truck collision include:
- Medical expenses: All healthcare costs from ambulance fees to hospitalization charges to expenses of procedures, tests, medication, assistive devices, physical therapy, etc. If treatment will be required in future, like surgery, the projected costs can also be claimed.
- Lost income: Any earnings lost due to missing work during recovery. Also, potential long-term loss of income if you’re disabled and cannot return to your profession.
- Property damage: Repairs or replacement cost of your vehicle if it was totaled.
- Pain and suffering: Monetary compensation for physical pain and mental trauma suffered such as emotional distress.
- Wrongful death damages: Financial support, loss of companionship, burial costs if a loved one died in the crash.
- Punitive damages: Additional penalties imposed to punish defendant’s egregious actions.
Why Choose Karns and Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys?
At Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys, we have the compassion, expertise and resources to help truck accident injury victims and families obtain maximum compensation for their damages. With several years of legal experience, including many commercial trucking cases, our attorneys know how to investigate such crashes thoroughly and build a rock-solid injury claim. We have recovered hundreds of millions for our satisfied clients across Texas. Our services include:
- Free claim evaluation by an experienced Houston truck accident lawyer no matter where in Texas the crash occurred.
- Scouring crash records for evidence establishing culpability.
- Hiring expert witnesses to highlight safety violations.
- Valuing all your damages accurately.
- Relentlessly pursuing just compensation from all liable sources.
- No recovery, no fees promise, so you pay legal costs only if we win compensation.
Crashes involving huge commercial vehicles like tractor-trailers often lead to critical injuries and massive property damage due to their sheer size and weight. As an innocent accident victim, you should not suffer financially because of a reckless trucker or company.
Consult with an experienced Austin truck accident lawyer to understand all your legal options and get personalized advice on pursuing your injury claim. With expert legal representation guiding your case, you can focus on healing, knowing your lawyer will fight to secure fair financial damages which can help facilitate your recovery. So don’t delay in seeking legal help - contact Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys today for a free case review.
