Sacramento Trucking & Big Rig Accident Attorney

California Commercial Truck Accident Litigation

Prepare Your Car For An Emergency

In truck versus car accidents, cars typically sustain the most damage. Although trucks are involved in rollovers and accidents, most often the victims of commercial trucking accidents are the other, smaller vehicles on the road.

In order to avoid becoming a statistic, equipping your car (or motorcycle) with basic items can help you in the event of a collision with a big rig or any other type of roadway accident.

Must haves include:

• Blankets
• A first–aid kit
• Flares
• A flashlight (preferably an LED, or one that operates without a battery)
• Jumper cables
• A seat–belt cutter
• A hammer to break the vehicle window glass
• Pen and paper
• Camera to take pictures of the accident scene
  • Include pictures from different distances and angles
  • Take photos of any skid marks, if you have a a tape measure or ruler put it next to the mark before you take the picture
  • Take pictures of any debris nearby, including the surrounding area so police can determine the location of the debris
  • Include pictures from the inside of the car, including any damage to the vehicle

What To Do If You're In An Accident With A Truck

The following tips provide some guidelines to follow if you have been in an accident with a truck or any vehicle:

• Check to see if anyone is hurt or in need of medical attention. However, in some cases, such as whiplash, symptoms don't show up until the next day, or even a week or two later. If you or a passenger go to the hospital, if possible take close–up photos of the injuries while in the hospital
• Call 911. If calling from a cell phone, make sure to tell the operator where you are
• Put out flares or turn on your hazards in order to alert oncoming traffic that there's been an accident
• If possible, exchange basic information with the truck driver and any other driver involved
  • Only provide information such as your insurance information, driver's license, name and address. Don't offer any additional information
  • Request the same information from the other drivers
  • Write down license plate numbers
  • Determine if there were any witnesses and if so, write down their names, phone numbers and a brief description of what they saw

Where a public vehicle such as a city, county or state vehicle, fire truck or CALTRANS caused your accident, you only have six months from the date of your injury to file a written claim with the city or county. Failure to do so will bar you from filing a legal complaint. It's crucial to contact an experienced California personal injury attorney to ensure that you don't miss any critical deadlines.

Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer or insurance lawyer as soon as possible if you've been in an accident with a commercial truck or any other type of vehicle. An experienced attorney can help you determine your next steps and your options for recovery and help you obtain the compensation you deserve.