80,000 lbs. crashing into the back of barely 4,000 lbs. These are the figures we’re dealing with when a fully loaded truck crashes into a regular passenger vehicle. You can imagine that the impact of such a collision is not going to be good for the car being rear-ended. The truck driver is likely to leave the scene uninjured, but the other driver will be the one who takes the brunt of the impact. If you’ve been injured in a rear end truck crash, you may be permanently injured. Here are some tips to protect yourself and any potential case you may have:
First Things First: Look After Yourself
The type of injuries that happen after a truck rear-ends a passenger-style vehicle are often catastrophic. It is extremely rare for these incidents to take place and both truck driver and victim to walk away without any serious consequences to face. These are the most common injuries.
- Broken spine or other bone fractures
- Spinal disc injuries
- Lacerations
- Traumatic brain injury
- Whiplash
- Death
While some of these are more serious than others, any one of them can cause devastating effects on the quality of your life. That is why it is absolutely essential that you seek medical attention as soon as possible and engage with your doctor for as long as necessary in the days yet to come.
The Mental Toll
Keep in mind that there will be a mental toll post-accident. Some people suffer from PTSD, and others spiral into depression or other forms of severe anxiety. It is vital that you look after your mental health too and seek counseling or other guidance if you feel as though you are struggling in any way. Healing is never a linear experience, and everybody’s journey looks different.
Keep a Log
If you feel able, it is helpful to keep a log of your physical and mental condition. This will come in handy when the question of compensation and seeking repercussions comes up because it will be a valuable piece of evidence to support your claim. Note down any injury you sustained, the effects of this on your life and well-being, and the associated costs of any medical or therapeutic intervention. You should also keep track of any days you have to take off work and whether or not you face lost wages. Don’t forget to keep evidence in the form of receipts for any damage caused to your vehicle too, as these are all relevant.
Talk to Our Team
Karns & Karns Truck Accident Attorneys are experts in all the things you may be facing at this difficult time. Whether you have lost a loved one, or are dealing with the effects of extreme injuries, there is a way we can help. Taking the brave step to talk to our team of experts means you get the best possible advice and guidance moving forward.
Filing a Claim
It will also enable you to begin the claims process against the at fault party. Often, there are barriers you will face when it comes to securing the best possible outcome. Unfortunately, these are beyond difficult to face without the insight, knowledge, and expertise a professional brings to the table. You have every right to make a claim if you are the victim of a rear-end truck collision, so don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
How Will It Work?
Your attorney will obtain evidence and deal with the trucking company, so you don’t have to. Your only responsibility is to make sure you are taking the steps to get better physically and mentally. The day-to-day dealings with the trucking company and its insurers fall on the shoulders of your attorney. How the trucking company will respond to your claim depends on many factors. Remember that it is rare to file a claim for compensation and not meet resistance. The truck company has a reputation to protect after all, and a rear-end accident does not look good in the media. While this may be a selfish attitude, it is sadly the one that comes to light the most often. There will be a hardball approach on the other side which may make you feel pressured to accept a lower offer in order to make the case disappear. We are here to tell you, don’t accept the first thing that comes along. Often, this won’t even cover your medical expenses, especially if your injuries are life-changing and long-term. Be prepared for a fight, but rely on your attorney to do the punching.
What Will You Need?
There are a few things you will need to do to ensure the case is successful. A professional will be able to seek out the data from the driver to ascertain whether they were operating the truck lawfully or otherwise. This data determines what speed they were driving at the time of the accident, and how long the vehicle had been on the road as well.
Evidence
As mentioned above, keeping a log of the consequences is useful. It will enable you to prove that you were adversely affected and represent all the ways that this is true. Evidence can be anything from a letter from your doctor confirming your account of events, to pictures of the injuries, an account of the mental impact, and receipts from medical bills and repair jobs. It can also be witness statements from the day of the incident, and often these are incredibly useful things to have. You may want to show the official accident report from the attending officer at the scene, and any video surveillance footage to support what you are saying as well.
What Barriers May You Face?
Compensation cases like this should be, in theory, straightforward. A truck has driven into the back of your vehicle, and you are injured. Therefore, the driver should be held accountable, and you deserve compensation. However, prepare to face some roadblocks along the way. The truck driver may claim there were extenuating circumstances that led to the collision such as adverse weather, or you stopping without enough warning. The company could suggest the accident was avoidable and you were in the wrong. They might offer you a lowball settlement figure or put pressure on you to make it all disappear.
Don’t be dismayed. You deserve full compensation, and your quality of life is worth the effort.
Visit Karns & Karns Truck Accident Attorneys based in LA today. We also have offices throughout California, Texas, and Nevada.
