The extreme differences in size and weight between a large commercial truck and a smaller passenger vehicle mean that any accident involving the two can have disastrous results for the smaller car and its occupants, who are likely to sustain catastrophic injuries. When the commercial truck is transporting hazardous materials, the risk of serious injury is even higher due to the risk of a cargo spill. Despite the strict licensing, registration, training, and other regulations imposed on hazmat trucking companies by the Department of Transportation (DOT), hazmat trucks are involved in hundreds of accidents, many of them fatal, across the country each year.How Your Attorney Can Help You
A truck accident lawyer can help you seek fair compensation for your damages by:
- Mounting a thorough investigation of your accident and calling in an accident reconstructionist or other expert witnesses to help establish liability for your crash
- Identifying multiple defendants and determining the percentages of fault borne by various parties, each of whom might be insured by a different company
- Consulting with your doctors to determine the overall cost of your present and future medical care and put a dollar amount on your pain and suffering
- Sending a spoliation letter to the trucking company to prevent it from erasing data pertaining to your wreck from the truck’s “black box” recorder, dashboard camera, or other onboard recording devices.
- Filing insurance claims demanding appropriate compensation from each defendant
- Negotiating for fair settlements
- Filing multiple lawsuits if reasonable awards are not offered.
While most truck accident claims are settled out of court, having an attorney who’s willing to go to trial if necessary gives you strong leverage against each defendant.
How You Can Help Your Attorney
If you’re physically able to do so after your wreck, you should move to safety, call 9-1-1 to report your accident, take photos of the scene and all vehicles involved, exchange information with the other driver but do not discuss the accident, get contact information from any witnesses, seek medical attention even if you don’t feel that you are seriously injured, notify your own insurer of the crash, and consult a truck accident lawyer. Do not apologize or admit any fault to anyone for anything.
Have You Been Injured in a Hazmat Truck Accident?
If you've been injured in a Florence car accident you should speak with a car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our Florence, South Carolina office directly at 843.488.7540 to schedule your consultation. We are also able to meet clients at our Charleston, Conway, Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Mt. Pleasant, North Myrtle Beach or North Charleston office locations.
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