It’s surprising how many people don’t understand the risks they’re taking when they work near trucks. Trucks are big, heavy, and fast, and can easily cause major truck injury to workers in a matter of seconds. Truck drivers are also required to take much more care when operating a truck than other drivers because of their size and weight, so it’s not just the driver that you need to worry about hurting you if they get into an accident.
Truck accidents happen all too often. More than 16,000 people die on American roads every year from truck accidents, and 1 person dies every two minutes in a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) accident. That’s over 10,000 deaths a year that could have been prevented.
What to do if involved in a truck accident:
- Call 9-1-1 right away.
- Stay calm and don’t touch the truck or anything else around it if you can help it.
- Try to stay upright, if possible until the police arrive. If you are lying on the road, try not to move because that can cause more damage to your body and make you more susceptible to additional injuries in a crash. Keeping your limbs immobilized may also make it easier for emergency response personnel to reach you before additional damage is done.
- If there are any other workers around, get their names, numbers, and contact information. Tell them to get back and keep on a safe distance since the truck could roll or catch fire at any time.
- If you can, get the truck driver’s information. If they’re still in the truck or injured on the scene, it will be easier to speak with them before they attempt to leave (although this is unlikely).
Can you sue a trucking company for injuries?
If you have been injured by a negligent truck driver, the driver’s trucking company may be liable. This means that they could be responsible to pay damages to you and all of your medical bills and other costs, including lost wages. If the truck driver wasn’t doing their job properly and caused the accident, you may have a case unless the driver can prove that the accident was an unavoidable occurrence or something else out of their control.
If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed by a truck driver’s negligence, you should get in touch with an attorney because often truck companies have deep pockets that most workers don’t, and they can make it difficult to receive the compensation you deserve.
Who do you hire if you’ve been injured by a truck?
Hiring an attorney can be the best way to ensure that your interests are being represented in a court of law, but it’s not the right decision for everyone. If you want to avoid going through the court system and may not have the money for legal fees, you can try doing it yourself. A truck accident lawyer will be able to determine if you have a case, but you may be able to handle your paperwork and go through the court system for damages.