If you often tense up when passing a large truck on the highway, you are not alone. Regardless if they are conscious of it, most people’s intuition kicks in when traveling near 18-wheelers and reminds them that getting into a collision would likely be catastrophic.
What few people realize, though, is that the feeling is mutual. According to the New York Times, truckers can see everything from their high perch, and it makes them every bit as nervous around passenger vehicle motorists as such motorists are around them.
Truckers witness everything, from texting while driving to making illegal maneuvers because it’s late and there are fewer cars on the road. Of course, passenger vehicle occupants are not the only ones guilty of violating local traffic laws; however, they are the ones most likely to sustain severe injuries in the event of a collision.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, most fatalities in large truck accidents are the occupants of smaller cars. A single truck can weigh 30 times that of a car, and individuals who survive 18-wheeler collisions are likely to sustain severe injuries because of the massive weight discrepancy between the two vehicles.
If you were hurt in a large truck crash, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages while you recover, and pain and suffering. To determine if you have grounds for a claim, contact the Law Office of George R. Fusner Jr.
George R. Fusner Jr. received his law degree from the prestigious Vanderbilt University School of Law and has been a practicing attorney since 1977. Call 615-251-0005 or 800-427-8960 to schedule a free case evaluation with a truck wreck attorney in Nashville.
Read on to learn what you should do if you were hurt in a truck crash that was not your fault:
- Call the Police
In the State of Tennessee, motorists must report all collisions that result in personal injury, death, or property damage exceeding $400. The easiest way to report a wreck is to call the police and cooperate with them when they respond at the scene to draft the official report.
- Seek Medical Care
As PennyGeeks explains, your top priority after any collision is to seek medical attention for yourself and anyone else who was injured. If multiple people were hurt in the crash, first responders are going to triage them and treat those with the most severe injuries first. If you do not require emergency medical care, it is still wise to seek urgent care as soon as you leave the scene.
This will ensure you receive treatment for any injuries, even if they have not yet manifested symptoms. It will also provide essential evidence should you decide to file a personal injury claim at some point.
- Record As Many Details As Possible
If you are fully cognizant and physically capable of walking around at the scene, document as much as possible. This might include:
- Photographing the accident from all angles;
- Gathering the names and contact information of any witnesses;
- Gathering the names and insurance information of any motorists involved; and
- Getting the names and badge numbers of the officers who responded to the scene.
Once your health has stabilized, the fourth and final step is calling a truck wreck attorney. For quality legal counsel during every stage of the claims process, turn to the Law Office of George R. Fusner Jr.
Call 800-427-8960 to schedule a free consultation with a truck wreck lawyer in Nashville. If you want to learn more about truck accident claims in Tennessee, visit USAttorneys.com.
