A Commercial Vehicle Hit Me. Now What?

If you were in a crash with an 18-wheeler or other commercial vehicle, you might be tempted to treat the crash like any other car accident. But when the at-fault party was operating a big rig commercial truck, or another commercial vehicle (UPS truck, delivery van, or company car), there are some key differences you should be aware of if you choose to file an accident claim or pursue legal action.

Commercial vehicle accidents often result in higher settlements for injured people. At same time, cases can be more complex and time consuming, and more frequently go to trial. Here’s what you need to know.

What Should I Do After a Commercial Vehicle or Truck Accident in Mobile, Alabama?

If you’ve been in an accident with a commercial vehicle, the basic steps you need to immediately after the incident will be very similar to the ones you’d take after any other kind of car accident.

• Remain calm. Do not leave the scene.
• Check for injuries and call 911. Always call the police and get an accident report and request an ambulance if there are major injuries.
• If it’s safe and you’re able, document everything you can at the scene. Pictures of the crash damage, skid marks, debris trails, suspicious behavior, witness statements and contact info, the name and badge number of the responding officer, and anything else that seems important or connected to what happened.
• See a doctor as soon as you can if you’re experiencing any symptoms, even seemingly “minor” bumps and bruises. Internal injuries, brain injuries, or whiplash can take time to show up, and getting immediate medical help can prevent these injuries from getting worse.
• Call Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys as soon as possible—ideally within the first 24 hours after the accident. The sooner you call us, the more evidence we may be able to gather from the crash scene, and the better protected you’ll be against unscrupulous tactics by the insurance company.

3 Mistakes to Avoid After a Mobile, Alabama Truck Crash

• Don’t Apologize: It’s extremely important that you avoid apologizing or taking any blame for the accident when speaking with a police officer or the trucking company’s insurance adjusters. We know how natural it is (especially when you’re in a state of shock) to say, “I’m sorry.” But those kinds of statements can and will be used by the insurer to try to limit their liability and reduce or outright deny your claim.
• Don’t Make a Recorded Statement: Do not give any recorded statements to an insurance adjuster, especially if you aren’t represented by a personal injury attorney experienced with commercial truck accidents. They might seem friendly and helpful, but adjusters are not your friends, and the only reason they’re talking to you is to get you to say things they can use against you. While you’ll need to communicate with them at some point, you shouldn’t have to do it alone. Instead, hire a lawyer to deal with the insurance company on your behalf as soon as you can.
• Avoid Sharing Information on Social Media: Don’t post about your accident on social media. In fact, try to avoid posting anything at all while your case is open. Even unrelated posts of you having fun or performing physical activities can be used to argue your injuries are not serious.

RELATED: Do Semi-Truck Accidents Go to Trial?

Commercial Vehicle Accidents Different From Ordinary Car Accidents. Here’s What You Need to Know if You Were Hurt in Alabama

There are some of the major factors that distinguish a commercial vehicle accident case from one between motorists.

Motorists’ Injuries Are Often More Severe

While devastating injuries can happen in any crash, the simple fact is that most commercial vehicles are larger than the average family car, putting you at greater risk for more life-changing injuries.

Liability Can Be Complicated (but Often Falls Upon the Trucking Company)

In a “regular” car crash, most often only the at-fault driver is held responsible. But when the person who hit you is an employee performing their job responsibilities, liability (the legal term to describe who is responsible) may fall upon the trucking company or other commercial enterprise that employs the driver.

Trucking companies and other commercial vehicle operators are held to strict state and federal regulations, including licensing requirements for their drivers, maximum shift lengths and mandatory rest breaks, how often the vehicles are inspected and serviced, and more.

In many Alabama trucking accidents, our team of personal injury attorneys discovers that the trucking company was cutting corners and violating one or more regulations in order to keep their vehicles and drivers on the road.

At the same time, individual truck drivers may also share liability, for example if they were distracted or driving drunk. Even service technicians or equipment manufacturers may be held partially at-fault for preventable mechanical failures that contributed to the accident.

In many Alabama trucking accidents, our team of personal injury attorneys discovers that the trucking company was cutting corners and violating one or more regulations in order to keep their vehicles and drivers on the road.

Most Companies Have Sizable Insurance Policies for Personal Injury

In Alabama, individual drivers are only required to carry $25,000 per person (and only $50,000 per accident) in liability coverage. The rules are different for big trucks and commercial vehicles. Companies and carriers often carry sizable insurance policies, often reaching into the hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars. That means if you do suffer a catastrophic injury caused by a commercial driver, you are much more likely to get a large accident settlement to cover your damages.

You’ll Be in For a Tough Fight

If the trucking company knows it stands to lose a huge settlement or jury verdict, you can bet their team will fight tooth and nail to protect themselves to the greatest extent possible. They’ll employ an expert legal team, and they won’t be afraid to use every trick in the book to keep your payout as low as they can.

Hiring an Attorney Is a Smart Move—but the Insurance Company Won’t Tell You That

The insurance company isn’t under any legal obligation to give you good legal advice. Their job is to save money, so they aren’t going to be as honest with you about your options as a lawyer will be, especially in a high stakes claim like a commercial vehicle crash. If you want straightforward legal advice, it’s in your best interest to contact a personal injury lawyer with experience handling commercial vehicle claims as soon as you can.

Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys Fight and Win for the Injured in Mobile and Throughout Alabama

If you or a loved one have been hurt in a commercial vehicle accident, choosing the right truck accident attorney can make a huge difference in terms of the outcome.

The Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys team of accident lawyers have extensive experience fighting and winning against major trucking companies and commercial businesses, including:

• A $100,000 settlement for Gracie in mediation after a tractor-trailer driver going the opposite direction made a left turn in front of her.
• A $3 million settlement for Eddie after he was hit by a large truck that failed to stop and check for traffic before pulling onto a highway.
• A multi-million settlement for Angie after a fully loaded construction truck hit her head-on.

Again: the company you’ll be up against will pull out all the stops to try to deny your claim. They will be well-represented, and they will care far more about protecting their financial interests then providing fair compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In situations like these, you need a lawyer.

We’ve seen their tactics time and time again, and we fight hard to cut through the lies and misinformation and get our clients the compensation they deserve.

Again: the company you’ll be up against will pull out all the stops to try to deny your claim. They will be well-represented, and they will care far more about protecting their financial interests then providing fair compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In situations like these, you need a lawyer.

To schedule your free consultation with Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, give us a call today at (251) 888-8888 or send a message.

The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.