What Happens if You’re in an Accident with a Delivery Truck?

Many people feel like they live out of their cars because they’re always on the move for work, errands, and driving others around. When you’re on the roads in the Alvin area, you’ve probably noticed that there are many more delivery trucks on the road than there used to be. With many of us driving as part of our regular routine and a great number of trucks making deliveries for Amazon, FedEx, and other companies, collisions seem inevitable. Even when you drive defensively and attentively, it is sometimes impossible to prevent being involved in an accident with a delivery truck.

So what should you do when that happens? The first thing you need to be aware of is that a collision with a commercial delivery truck will often be very different from an accident between two ordinary passenger vehicles. Corporate attorneys and insurance teams will act quickly to try to pin the blame on you, and you need to be prepared to protect yourself. Working with an experienced Alvin truck accident attorney early on is the easiest way to ensure that you don’t get overrun by legal tactics that can prevent you from recovering full and fair compensation for your losses.

The team at DeKeyzer Law built our reputation on our ability to stand up for the rights of truck accident victims, so we know that every case has unique challenges, and we can’t explain every potential complication in a blog post like this. But we can give you an idea of what to watch for if you’ve been in an accident with a delivery truck.

Your Health and Safety Come First

While you do need to worry about legal and financial issues, the most important thing to focus on right after a truck accident is protecting your health and safety, along with the health and safety of others in your vehicle. Make sure someone calls 911 even if you don’t observe any injuries. The huge rush of adrenaline you experience during and after an accident can hide many injury symptoms.

Calling for emergency assistance allows first responders to provide quick aid and to protect those involved from further injuries. Police should make a report, which will serve as crucial evidence later. Rather than talking to anyone else involved in the accident, it is best to speak only with the police if possible. You can provide contact information, but try to defer other questions until later.

Emergency medical technicians on the scene may not offer to take you to the hospital, but that does not mean you’re “fine.” They aren’t doctors, and they aren’t equipped to give you a thorough examination. You and everyone in the vehicle with you need to see a doctor, explain that you’ve been in a crash with a truck, and ensure that you get a thorough examination. A doctor who understands trauma injuries can look for signs of damage that may not be obvious, such as internal bleeding. 

But some serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, don’t show symptoms for hours, days, or even weeks later. If you notice any symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion, or other unusual conditions, see the doctor and report the issues. Delaying treatment can allow a condition to grow dangerously worse. It also gives the trucking company an opportunity to claim that your injuries were caused by something you did late,r rather than the collision with their delivery driver.

What You Say Can Be Used Against You

When a delivery truck driver operates as an employee of a major company, the company may send attorneys or representatives in very quickly. Depending on the situation, they may pester you with questions, hoping you will say something they can use later to deny responsibility for causing the accident. Or they may offer you compensation immediately and tell you that you don’t need a lawyer. They will usually tell you that if you don’t accept their offer right away, the offer will be rescinded and you’ll get nothing.

Though it can be hard to withstand the pressure, it is in your best interests to get legal advice before saying or accepting anything. An Alvin truck accident attorney can provide a free consultation to help you understand your legal rights and the ramifications of accepting the offer. Corporations and insurance companies usually only offer money when they are sure they will lose a case in court. They start out offering a small amount, hoping you will take the bait. An experienced attorney can evaluate the true value of your claim and explain what a fair settlement should include so that you can decide whether or not to accept an offer.

Just remember that even when a representative of the insurer or trucking company seems sympathetic or friendly, they are always hoping to catch you off guard. If you try to be cheerful on the phone, for instance, they will argue later that you must not have been seriously injured. When you can allow your attorney to handle questions on your behalf, you don’t have to worry about saying the wrong thing.

Insurance Can Be Complicated in Delivery Truck Accident Cases

When the driver of a car or truck is held liable for causing an accident, it is usually their insurance company that works to fight liability and pays compensation to those hurt in the accident. When a delivery truck driver is involved in an accident, there could potentially be several insurance companies all trying to prove why they aren’t responsible for paying anything, so the case can get complicated quickly.

When the driver is a company employee, the company may be held liable, so its insurance company will be fighting to deny liability. When the driver is an independent contractor, they may be covered by their own personal policy, their own business policy, or a policy offered through the delivery company or another organization. The delivery company might insist that the driver should be treated as an independent contractor when the facts of the situation make it possible to argue that the driver was actually an employee. 

At DeKeyzer Law, we know it is critical for an Alvin truck accident attorney to investigate every possible angle to ensure that accident victims are able to get full compensation for all the effects of their injuries, including pain, suffering, and the impact on their future.

It’s Important to Act Quickly After a Delivery Truck Accident

The corporate legal teams can swing into action immediately after a truck accident, making it hard to secure the evidence that truck accident victims need to obtain to prove liability and recover damages. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident with a delivery truck, you need to act without delay to protect your future. A dedicated truck accident attorney at DeKeyzer Law can provide the representation, advice, and assistance that will help you succeed during this difficult time. For a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more about the ways we can help, call us at 713-904-4004 or contact us online now.