Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
Tractor-trailers, big rigs, tankers, and other commercial trucks all share the road with passenger vehicles. Unfortunately, these larger vehicles can cause chaos on the road when they’re involved in a crash. In fact, it’s not unusual for a tractor-trailer collision in Miami and other cities to become a multiple vehicle accidents.
Multiple vehicle accidents involving tractor trailers and trucks occur due to a number of reasons. One is the sheer size of the truck. If a truck loses control, the surface of the truck may come into contact with multiple smaller vehicles. Trucks also tend to travel on highways, meaning accidents involving them tend to involve higher speeds and more force, meaning a collision that is likely to involve multiple vehicles that are also on the highway.
If you have been in a multiple vehicle accident involving a commercial truck, keep in mind your case will be more complex because there will be multiple claims and multiple defendants. There may also be multiple liable parties. In addition, the truck carrier and their insurance company will likely be more powerful. If you have been in a chain reaction accident in Miami or any other city, there are several things you’ll want to do to protect yourself and your loved ones:
1) Get immediate medical attention for anyone who needs it.
Chain reaction accidents can involve serious injuries, so get emergency medical assistance if needed. Police can also help sort out the complexity of the accident.
2) Get the name, insurance information, and contact information of everyone involved.
At the site of the accident, it’s going to be difficult to determine who may be a defendant who may be a liable party. It’s important to get as much information as you can so you can contact everyone involved in you need to.
When getting information, stick to the facts and avoid getting into a discussion about what happened or what caused the crash. Let investigators and your attorney determine that. Remember: anything you say about the case could affect your claim later on.
2) Get lots of documentation.
Take photos with your phone, write down the license plate numbers of everyone who was there, get the contact information of any witnesses and get as much information as you can. Visit the doctor soon as possible after your accident and get copies of your medical records. Keep a list of your symptoms and any expenses you have suffered as a result of the accident. The facts will start to fade from your memory quickly, so document it all.
3) Hire a personal injury attorney in Miami or your community.
Multiple car crashes involving a tractor-trailer or commercial truck are not the type of case you want to take on your own. There are likely to be multiple defendants, multiple liable parties, and multiple versions of what happened. It’s easy to get accused of wrongdoing and easy to lose out on compensation you may need to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, car repair bills and more.
It’s important to retain a Miami personal injury attorney as soon as possible, both to protect your rights and to ensure you get the legal support and representation you need. An attorney can ensure you don’t get blamed for the accident, can help you understand what your compensation needs are, can help you file a civil claim, and can even help you negotiate with your insurance company if needed. An attorney can also help you with finding a rental car, finding medical experts, and taking care of the many small details will need to handle after your accident.
If you’d like to find a caring Miami personal injury attorney, contact Flaxman Law Group for a free accident consultation. We take care of all the details so you don’t have to. At your free initial consultation, we can answer your questions and help you understand whether you have a claim.