The Truck Accident Law Firm Blog

What you say, or don't say, at a truck accident scene can have serious impact on the outcome of your claim. Most people are somewhat stunned immediately after an accident, even when they are not injured. It's very easy to say the wrong things as you try to reconstruct, out loud, what happened and what you remember.

Remember, too, that insurance companies don't want to pay for anything more than they have to. They, too, will be looking for ways to reduce what they will cover. If you say anything that implies you were at fault, this can come back to haunt you, in more ways than one.

Insurance companies look for reasons for paying as little as possible, for increasing your rates, or cancelling your policy. The more information you insurance company has, the faster they can settle claims, pay for repairs, medical care and other expenses.

Here are a few more "DON'Ts":

• Don't admit or hint you might be at fault.
• Don't withhold your contact information. You must give your name, address, registration and proof of insurance at a minimum.
• Don't get out of your car any sooner than you have to. Let the other driver come to you exposing any serious injuries without revealing whether you are injured.
• Don't overlook showing concern for the other drivers’ and passengers' well being. Ask if anyone in the other vehicles is hurt.
• Don't investigate your car's damages before asking about injuries.
• Don't move your vehicle unless you have to for safety reasons. If laws require moving accidents from the roadway, delay as long as possible. You don't want to be accused of leaving the scene of the accident or destroying evidence. Any resulting traffic jam can only encourage an officer to get there quickly.
• Don't move the vehicle yourself. Ask the officer or fireman to move it for you.
• Don't delay calling the police or 911. Call before the other driver calls to establish your credibility and integrity, and discouraging suspicion that you are trying to avoid a ticket.
• Don't waste the time you have while waiting for the police to arrive. Gather contact information about the other drivers and vehicles, all passengers, damages, injuries, witnesses, etc. Give as little information as possible to the other driver beyond what is legally required.
• Don't act or speak defensively, and don’t apologize (may be taken as admitting fault.)
• Don't argue with the other driver, but do listen carefully to his/her description of what happened. Don’t contradict them or let them know what your description is.
• Don't accept a ticket without disputing it. Whether you were at fault or not, there are ways of fighting tickets that can get it dismissed, and possibly your liability in any accident claim.

If you have been injured in a truck accident, you must act quickly as the truck company’s insurance carrier certainly will. Please contact an experienced truck accident attorney in your area today to schedule a confidential, no-cost consultation.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) driver distraction is a major cause of car and truck accidents. While using a cell phone increases the risk of collision four-fold, and cell phone use is one of the most common tasks drivers engage in while driving, cell phones are not the only problem on our nation’s roadways. Truck drivers have enough stress on the job as it is; distractions such as using a cell phone or using other technology is a recipe for disaster.

Some causes of distraction include:

• Visual distractions such as changing CDs or tuning the radio.
• Rear-facing infant seats in the back seat, particularly when the driver is the only other person in the vehicle.
• Passengers, especially among younger drivers
• Drinking beverages, particularly hot drinks
• Failure to plan ahead for using technology or other objects during the drive.*
• Failure to preprogram technological devices, e.g. GPSs and PDAs.
• Failure to anticipate the road and traffic conditions ahead before engaging in a distracting task.
  
  

Age is a significant factor in distracted driving activities. A NHTSA study, Driver Strategies for Engaging in Distracting Tasks Using In-Vehicle Technologies, March 2008, found that teen drivers sought out opportunities to challenge their multitasking skills while driving, and that older drivers tried to limit these kinds of challenges.

Business drivers were more likely to plan ahead the placement of their cell phones, earpieces, information sources, and other objects that they might use while driving. Personal drivers tended not to plan for the use of technology or other objects during their drive. Truck drivers have been known to use lap top computers while driving.

If you or a loved one has been injured (or killed) in a truck accident, it’s imperative that you contact a knowledgeable, experienced truck accident attorney in your area today.