3 Things You Should Know About Commercial Accidents
Nobody wants to find himself involved in a commercial vehicle accident because not only is it quite inconvenient, but it can be life-threatening and costly as well. However, there are instances wherein you may find yourself or someone you know in this unfortunate situation. When this happens, below are some of the things that you need to know, and do immediately.
Act Quickly
One of the primary things that you need to know about commercial accidents is that you need to act quickly. Furthermore, the experts at keatingfirmlaw.com suggest that you call the police immediately to investigate and document the accident that you have been involved with. The report that the police will generate will be one of the most important pieces of evidence that you need to solidify your case later on.
After getting in touch with the police to report the scene, make sure to seek the appropriate medical attention. You should take time to do this even if you deem that you are not injured. The reason behind this is that there are instances wherein your injuries will only appear after a couple of days that the accident happened. Make sure that you collate and organize all the medical records that you get from your checkups later on because all these will also be vital pieces of evidence that will make your case stronger.
Get in Touch With a Lawyer
In parallel to acting quickly, you also need to get in touch with a lawyer immediately. When you get in touch with a lawyer, there is a great chance that they will accompany you to your doctor’s appointments, particularly on your first meeting because this is where they will discuss your case. This will prove to be quite convenient for you as you get to meet with your doctor and your lawyer on the same day. In this way, you are guaranteed that your lawyer will make sure that you don’t pay for your medical consultation yourself.
When you hire a lawyer, you will also be alleviated from the stress of having to deal with an insurance company because the attorney will be the one who will handle it. You can expect your lawyer to negotiate for a settlement, making sure that you are not cheated on in terms of the compensation that you should get. Nevertheless, the decision will still be up to you in the long run.
Also, one of the reasons why you need to get in touch with a lawyer is because commercial accidents require more paperwork than any other personal injury case. If the records are handled properly and requested promptly, then this can prove to be beneficial for your case. Alongside this, commercial accidents are also more difficult to litigate, which means that they can get more complicated rapidly. The reason behind this is that there are several parties involved, with more than one being liable for the accident. Determining who is at fault can prove to be quite impossible to do on your own, which is why you need to ensure that you get in touch with a reliable lawyer who will be able to help you manage the processes you need to go through for your case.
Avoid the Common Causes of Commercial Accidents
Finally, make sure to familiarize yourself with the common causes of commercial accidents to ensure that you will be able to avoid them accordingly. For instance, get to know when jackknifing or fuel fires occur. In terms of the former, the truck driver lacks sufficient time to react to a hazard in front of them. When it comes to the latter, the diesel fuel most likely came in contact with sparks from the battery of the truck.
In terms of the leading cause of fatalities and injuries in commercial accidents, rollovers top the list. Some of the reasons why this happens include driver error and truck malfunction, as well as hazardous driving conditions. For this reason, you need to ensure that before you get behind the wheel of your vehicle, it should be in a road-worthy condition. You should also be more alert when driving in extreme weather conditions.
When it comes to commercial accidents, make sure that you exert the effort to act quickly and get in touch with a lawyer the soonest time you can. From there, make sure that you are aware of the common causes of commercial accidents for you to be able to avoid them accordingly. In this way, you will be safer while you are on the road.