While the moments following a commercial truck accident can be critical, the decisions you make in the days that come could shape your personal injury case.
The steps you take following an accident could impact your physical health for years to come. Likewise, any missteps could hinder your personal injury case and leave you paying for your hospital bills out of your own pocket. A truck accident lawyer serving Dallas could help you navigate this crucial period.
Seek Out Medical Care If You Haven’t Already
For many people—including those suffering severe injuries—it is necessary to seek emergency medical treatment immediately after a truck accident. If you were not treated right after your collision, it is important to have your doctor examine you as soon as possible—even if your injuries seem minor.
The minor aches or pains that you felt the day of your accident could manifest into something far more severe in the days to follow. Some serious conditions like traumatic brain injuries (TBI) might not be evident for even longer. The sooner you seek out medical treatment, the sooner your doctor could help you start to heal.
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Follow Your Treatment Plan Exactly How Your Doctor Ordered
Going to the doctor once and then getting on with your life is not the best way to deal with an injury following a truck accident. It is important to follow the treatment plan that your physician formulated to help protect your health and your personal injury case.
The failure to follow the prescribed treatment plan could result in delayed recovery. In some cases, it could even allow your condition to worsen. In addition to the health consequences this halt in treatment can bring, it may harm the validity of your case.
To illustrate, if you don’t follow the plan to the end, the insurance company may claim that your injuries weren’t as bad as you said. What’s more, if your condition worsens, the insurer could blame you for your injuries. As a result, they could offer you a low settlement or refuse to compensate you altogether.
Notify Your Insurance Company as Soon as Possible
Soon after your accident, you should notify your insurance company that you were involved in a collision with a commercial truck—even if you do not anticipate filing a claim on your policy. In most cases, auto insurance policies require insured drivers to report an accident immediately after it occurred.
This provision is designed to allow your insurance company time to investigate the truck accident to determine if coverage is necessary. The failure to timely report the accident could restrict your insurance company’s investigation, which could lead to the denial of your claim. What’s more, a lengthy delay in reporting the crash to your insurance carrier could prompt them to cancel your policy entirely.
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Do Not Sign Anything Without Consulting a Truck Accident Attorney First
It is important to avoid signing anything related to your truck accident, at least until you can communicate with an attorney. The other driver’s insurance company might make you a settlement offer or even send you a check, but signing anything could prevent you from recovering the full amount you are owed.
Legal documents related to a truck accident are often complex. Without realizing it, you could discover that the document you signed waived any rights you had to a settlement. Signing any legal documents before speaking to your attorney could hurt your chances of securing fair financial compensation.
Avoid Speaking to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company
You might have an obligation to report your accident to your own insurance carrier, but the same is not usually true for the other driver’s insurance company. You have no obligation to speak to them, but that will not stop them from reaching out. Speaking to the other insurance carrier on your own could harm your chances of financial recovery.
Giving a recorded statement to the insurance company provides them with an opportunity to use it against you. Insurance adjusters could twist your words or take them out of context so that it seems like you admitted fault. For that reason, it is best to avoid speaking to the insurance company and leave that to your legal counsel.
Call in the Strong Arm in the Days Following a Truck Accident
When you contact our firm, we can go over how we can help you in the days following a truck accident. Your attorney could take on the most challenging aspects of your case, from speaking to insurance companies to negotiating a settlement.
The team at Loncar Lyon Jenkins is ready to help you build a strong case while avoiding the missteps that could derail your truck accident injury claim. To get started, give us a call at (800) 285-4878 today. Our team offers free case reviews to all prospective truck accident clients.
