If you have been in a truck or car accident recently you may still be reeling from the horror of the event. In many cases, victims of car accidents—and especially those due to the negligence of others—may suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) whether the accident caused serious injury or not; in fact, often it is just the mere perception that your life was in danger causing PTSD. Along with that, you may be dealing with issues as severe as paralysis, traumatic brain injury, one or more broken bones, and a list of body parts that are bruised and in pain.
Like most experienced motorists, you are probably well aware that after a car accident occurs there is a ‘checklist’ you should go down to take care of everything in an organized manner; unfortunately the best-laid plans do not always go smoothly when you are in shock or in terrible pain after a car wreck. You may also be mobbed by people asking you a lot of questions, from law enforcement, EMTs, the other person involved, other passengers, and more. A car accident scene can range from being very quiet to extremely chaotic.
No matter what though, if it looks as if you may have a case against the other party, seeking contact information from any witnesses so that you can get in touch with them for testimony can be critical. Independent witnesses can be extremely valuable to your case because there is little chance of them profiting from helping you or making up a story. These key individuals are usually completely neutral. After all, they have no reason to be anything else. Unless they lack obvious credibility, such witnesses tend to be extremely beneficial in a jury trial. Unfortunately, people are often biased toward one facet or another—and professional drivers such as truckers may seem more believable, whether they are speaking to law enforcement or whether they are in front of a jury.
The perception that a truck driver may be telling the truth over a regular motorist, or that they may remember things more clearly, arises because of course they are trained drivers who spend much more time on the road and somehow may be more clear about what happened. The trucking industry can be extremely duplicitous overall when it comes to accidents—and especially if it looks like they may be liable for a significant payout—so if you were hit by a semi- or an 18-wheeler, consult with an attorney as soon as possible. It is in your best interest to have a legal professional communicate with insurance companies, prepare for the potential of a trial, and make sure you receive fair compensation for your injuries.
Please call the law offices of Andrew ‘Pike’ Piekalkiewicz, PLLC as soon as possible at (713) 748-7453 or visit AttorneySgtPike for a no obligation case review. As a variation of the system employed in trucking cases, Sgt. Attorney Pike activates and deploys the Car Accident Response Team or C.A.R.T. ™ immediately after being hired and in appropriate cases. A team of specialized personnel trained in every aspect of car wrecks and injuries is deployed. Let us help you!
