Texas Commercial Vehicle Accident Lawyer
Large commercial vehicles pose a danger to others on the highway, and their safe operation requires a driver with specialized training who pays meticulous attention to the rules of the road. If you were recently involved in a commercial vehicle accident and suffered a serious injury it’s your right to legal representation, you should call attorney Lindsey McKay of McKay Law who will fight for your compensation.
But in business, time equals money, and commercial vehicle drivers are often made to adhere to tight schedules and drive long hours.
If you or a loved one has become the victim of a commercial vehicle collision, speak with our Texas commercial vehicle accident lawyers immediately to get the legal help you need to recover from the serious damages.
To get started, call us at (903) INJURED – Call (903) 465-8733, or submit your case for a free case review.
What to Do After an Accident with a Commercial Vehicle
If you are involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle, you may be so seriously injured that you are unable to do anything but wait for an ambulance.
But if you are physically able to do so, it is helpful to know what to do in the minutes, hours, and days immediately following the accident:
- Check others involved to determine if first aid or an ambulance is required.
- Call the police and have an officer dispatched to the accident scene. Tell the dispatcher if an ambulance is required.
- Provide the police with a basic description of the accident and make a note of the officer’s name and the report number, so you can later obtain a copy.
- Get the name of the commercial vehicle driver, owner, insurer, and any witnesses, along with the plate number, driver’s license number, and other identifying features of the vehicle.
- If you can, take photos of the scene, including all vehicles and body damage. Include street signs or geographic markers to identify the location. If you are too badly injured to take pictures, ask someone else to do it.
- Get medical attention as soon as you can. If you asked the 911 operator to call an ambulance when you requested law enforcement, you will be taken to the nearest hospital emergency room. If not, have someone drive you to the ER, Urgent Care, or your regular physician. Make sure the doctor knows you were in a traffic accident.
- Contact a Texas Personal Injury Lawyer. Never try to negotiate a settlement directly with the commercial vehicle company or their insurance carrier. These are complicated legal matters that should only be handled by an experienced and highly qualified attorney.
- Don’t discuss the accident or the extent of your injuries with the commercial vehicle company or their insurance company’s representative. Don’t allow the insurance company to record a statement, and don’t sign any papers. Refer the adjuster to your lawyer. Keep in mind that the insurance adjuster’s goal is to avoid paying damages, or at least to keep your recovery to a bare minimum.
If you’ve been injured by a commercial vehicle, it may not be immediately apparent who the liable party is.
A Texas Personal Injury Attorney will be able to call upon experts such as accident reconstruction specialists, automotive and civil engineers, and traffic safety experts to assist in the investigation of the accident, identify liable parties, and provide evidence in support of your case.
What Is the First Step in Filing a Commercial Vehicle Accident Claim?
The first step in filing a commercial vehicle crash claim is gathering evidence of your accident and injuries.
The more information you can collect about your commercial vehicle accident, the easier it will be for your attorney to make sense of your case and build a strong legal strategy to fight for compensation.
Collecting information from the scene such as the name of the commercial vehicle company and photographs of property damages can help your claim later. If you need assistance gathering evidence and information, a Texas commercial vehicle accident lawyer can help.
Gathering information is also necessary before you file an insurance claim.
The insurance company you call will ask questions about your accident, such as where you were when it happened, the date and time, a description of the vehicles involved, and the names of all drivers.
Also, collect information such as the commercial vehicle driver’s Department of Transportation and permit numbers.
Giving as much information as possible to the insurance company could help you resolve your claim quickly and efficiently.
Once you have collected the most important information about your accident, the next step toward filing a claim is contacting McKay Law.
Our commercial vehicle accident lawyers can help you with all the subsequent steps involved in bringing a claim if we believe you have a case.
This can include preserving evidence, retrieving the commercial vehicle’s black box, speaking with witnesses, hiring experts, filing your claim, and negotiating with insurance claims adjusters in the pursuit of maximum recovery.
Is There a Time Limit for a Commercial Vehicle Accident Claim in Texas?
Texas has strict and specific time limits for filing personal injury and auto accident claims. This time limit is two years from the date of the accident in most cases.
If you wish to bring a commercial vehicle accident claim in Texas, you or your lawyer must file the claim paperwork within two years of the date of the accident.
If you did not discover your injuries until a date after your accident, the clock will not begin until the date of discovery.
The deadline for filing a wrongful death claim is two years from the date of your loved one’s passing.
If you are filing an insurance claim, your deadline is typically much shorter. Most insurance companies require claimants to report auto accidents as soon as possible – within 24 to 72 hours.
Waiting too long to notify your auto insurance company or the commercial vehicle driver’s insurer of your damages could give the provider grounds to deny your claim.
If you have any questions about your particular deadline for filing after a harmful commercial vehicle wreck in Texas, speak to our commercial vehicle accident lawyers.