When an Ohio truck driver acts carelessly or recklessly and causes an accident, you can file a liability claim or personal injury lawsuit and hold their employer liable for your financial and emotional damages. While Ohio negligence laws are clear about your rights in this type of case, the fight to recover the compensation you deserve can be complex.
The legal team at Bressman Law can help you understand what to do after a truck accident. If you believe you have a case against a negligent truck driver, call us at (614) 538-1116 today. We offer free case evaluations to truck crash victims in the state.
Why Do I Need to Take Specific Actions After a Truck Crash?
Before you can hold anyone liable for your related damages, you need clear proof of negligence on the part of the trucker. You must also be able to show you did everything you could to prevent your injuries or heal as much as possible. For this reason, it is paramount you take certain actions after a truck accident.
For a free legal consultation, call (614) 538-1116
When Should I Seek Medical Care?
Getting medical care as soon as possible after a truck accident is more important than you might realize. Even if you do not believe your injuries are serious, we recommend allowing paramedics to transfer you to the nearest emergency department by ambulance.
Not only will doctors treat any injuries you have as quickly as possible and rule out any emergent medical issues, seeking immediate care will also indisputably tie your injuries to the crash. If you wait for several hours or days to see a doctor, the insurance company might try to blame your injuries on another activity.
It is also important to follow any treatment plan your doctor puts in place. You can strengthen your case by:
- Attending all scheduled appointments;
- Doing any prescribed physical therapy or at-home exercises;
- Wearing any braces or splints as directed;
- Taking any prescribed medications; and
- Seeking a second opinion if you disagree with your doctor’s plan, instead of refusing to follow their medical advice.
If you do not follow your doctor’s orders, the trucking company might try to blame you for making your condition worse or causing lasting impairments.
How Can I Start Building My Case Against the Trucking Company?
Sometimes, we meet with accident victims who do not realize how much evidence they have in their possession already. While it is not always possible to get the names and contact information of witnesses or take pictures at the crash scene, this evidence is valuable for your case. In addition, other types of documentation can help, including:
- Dash cam video of the accident;
- The accident report, or information about the responding police officers;
- Your medical records, or notes about your injuries and treatment; and
- Your account of the events that occurred that day.
Perhaps the most important piece of evidence in your possession is your vehicle. It is essential that you keep your car in a safe, protected place until your attorney can look at it or someone else can document the damage. When we call in accident reconstruction experts, this could play a key role in helping them determine what happened, how it occurred, and why.
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Do I Need to Speak to a Lawyer?
These cases are often more complex than a typical car crash case. If you contact a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible, you can let them handle the legal process while you recover from your injuries. We recommend you look for certain qualities in a truck accident lawyer, such as experience in this area of law and an understanding of how to take on a large truck company and its insurer.
There is often a lot of evidence in these cases you need to protect—and much of it is in the hands of the trucking company. At Bressman Law, one of the first things we do is to send a spoliation letter to the trucking company. This letter legally obligates the company to collect and protect certain things that could become key evidence in our case. We will try to collect several types of evidence for your case, including:
- The truck driver’s logs, both digital and written;
- Digital data from the truck’s onboard computer;
- Dash cam video, if equipped;
- Results from the mandatory post-accident drug and alcohol tests;
- Maintenance logs for the truck and trailer;
- The driver’s employee records;
- The driver’s health records;
- The damaged truck and trailer; and
- Other proof that is pertinent to our case.
Before we file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit, we conduct a full investigation into your crash. During this process, we will gain access to this evidence so we can use it to build a solid case for the compensation you deserve.
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How Can I Set up My Free Consultation With Bressman Law?
Truck accident lawyer David Bressman and the team from Bressman Law can help you understand your rights after a Central Ohio crash. We will review your case for free. If we believe you have a viable case, we will try to hold the truck driver and trucking company liable for your injuries and damages.
Call us today at (614) 538-1116 for your complimentary consultation with a member of our team.
Call or text (614) 538-1116 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
