Truck Total: How to Come Back After a Truck Accident

More than 80 people died in truck accidents in Louisiana in 2016. When a big rig hits a car or any other vehicle, the results are often devastating. While there are ways to prevent them, the unfortunate fact is that far too many people suffer life-altering effects when accidents occur.

If this ever happens to you or a loved one, a New Orleans truck accident lawyer may be able to help. Here’s some information on ways to avoid a trucking accident and the action you should take if it ever happens to you or someone close to you.

Avoiding a Trucking Accident in New Orleans

Trucking companies can play a vital role in helping to prevent accidents from occurring. They owe it to other motorists on the road and they owe it to themselves.

One of the best ways to avoid an accident is to make sure all vehicles in a company’s fleet are properly inspected before every trip. Uncovering an issue before a big rig takes to the road can help keep a disaster from taking place. Technicians should check not only the steering system, but also the brake, radiator, and oil fluid levels as well. All lights and reflectors need to be inspected as well as the windshield wipers.

Tires should be closely inspected for signs of wear as well as proper inflation. It’s always vital that the brakes on a truck are thoroughly checked before any trip as well. This can be a time-consuming process, but it can save lives.

Although truck drivers are under intense pressure to meet deadlines, they have to use common sense when it comes to bad weather. If a storm rolls through, the driver must pull off the road in the safest manner possible or get to the closest truck stop. No matter how experienced or effective a driver may be, all the training in the world won’t help if the weather turns dangerous.

What to Do After an Accident

If you’re ever involved in an accident with a truck, the first thing to do is to make sure everyone is okay. If they’re not, get them medical attention immediately. While it would be understandable if you’re discombobulated and not thinking clearly, the calmer you are, the better you’ll be able to handle the situation.

You’ll need to get medical help as soon as possible if you’ve suffered any injury — even if you think it’s minor. Some injuries can go undetected for months, such as whiplash. If you don’t get checked out by a doctor and you experience symptoms at a later date, the best truck accident attorneys would have a hard time proving the accident was the direct cause of your injury. You need to be examined by a medical professional — not only for your health, but also for the health of your case.

Evidence can disappear quickly after a trucking accident for a variety of reasons. Heavy rains could wash away skid marks, road construction could substantially alter the accident scene and there is also the possibility that an unscrupulous trucking company could try to cover up the scene to avoid blame. That’s why it will be so important to contact law enforcement as quickly as you can and take pictures of the scene, if possible. Take them from multiple angles, including shots of not only the truck and your vehicle, but also any injuries you or anyone else in your car might have suffered. You should also get the contact information of any witnesses as well as the truck driver.

It will also be critically important that you speak with a lawyer as soon as possible just in case you need to file a New Orleans truck accident lawsuit. Irpino, Avin & Hawkins has a great deal of experience in this area of the law and will do whatever is needed to help you obtain the compensation to which you may be entitled.

Call 800-7500-LAW or contact us online to schedule a consultation and learn how we will protect your rights.