If you’ve ever been driving along a Washington highway when a tractor-trailer goes zooming past or comes screeching up behind you, you understand how terrifying it can be. Commercial truck drivers must adhere to stringent regulations regarding the weight and size of the hauls they carry, how long they can stay on the road without pulling over to rest and other issues as well. The blood alcohol content level for truck drivers is lower than it is for noncommercial drivers. If a truck accident occurs and you or your loved one suffers injury, it’s important to know what to do in the aftermath of the collision.
A first priority following a truck accident is always to seek medical attention. Such incidents often result in severe or life-threatening injuries. However, even if you have suffered minor injuries or feel okay after a collision, it’s always best to obtain medical attention anyway because it creates written documentation of the incident, which may be important to have on hand down the line. Also, some injuries are not entirely obvious immediately after an accident.
It’s not uncommon for insurance companies to try to minimize truck operator responsibility when collisions occur. There are steps you can take to subpoena a driver’s hour log or to analyze data from a truck’s black box. It’s also a good idea to find out whether there were any witnesses to the collision that resulted in your or your loved one’s injuries.
Recovery after a truck accident is often a long and arduous process. There is no reason you should have to bear the financial burden of a collision that another person’s negligence caused. At Greaney Scudder Law Firm, in Washington, you can rely on an experienced team to investigate a specific incident and advocate on your behalf if you choose to seek compensation for damages in a civil court.