Driving alongside some of the giant trucks that use California highways daily, people get numb to just how much weight is traveling a mere few feet away. The real danger is when a few feet goes to zero feet and an 18-wheeler or a box truck is suddenly in your lane. Sideswipe big rig accidents can occur without defensive drivers even having the chance to spot the collision coming.
Sideswipe collisions often take motorists by surprise and when a large truck is involved, the consequences for drivers and passengers can be devastating.
Finding Help for California Big Rig Sideswipe Accident Victims
After you or a loved one has been injured by a careless truck driver’s mistake, it’s important to talk to an expert in California personal injury law about your options. Insurance representatives for the trucking company involved will be steering you towards the smallest amount of compensation possible. You should know your rights and the benefits available to you.
Contact attorney Martin Gasparian for a free strategy session on your case. Even if you don’t choose to let Maison Law of California represent you, Mr. Gasparian can still walk you through every tactic insurance companies will try on you and tell you how to avoid them.
Who Can Be Held Responsible After a Sideswipe Truck Accident?
Accidents involving large vehicles like transport trucks and even farming equipment can quickly become confusing for victims seeking compensation.
Big rig drivers may work for themselves and would have their own car insurance policy you could file a claim against. They may also be working for a local farm, a local manufacturing plant, or a local trucking company. Each business would likely have its own truck accident liability insurance. Each driver and local company may be contracted out to a bigger corporation that would also carry insurance coverage.
Even the truck maker who built the vehicle could share liability if there was a design flaw or faulty part that contributed to your collision. All of these possibilities are easily sorted out by a personal injury attorney working on your side. One or more of these insurance options may be called upon to earn you the compensation you need in recovery.
What to Do After a Big Rig Accident in California
The more insurance companies involved in an accident claim the better chance you’ll have of earning enough money to cover all of your hospital bills and replacing your lost wages at work. However, more insurance adjusters will mean more scrutiny of your case.
You may be completely innocent with a police accident report backing you up, but insurance companies will still try to downplay your injury or even place accident fault on you. They do this to try to save their company money when it comes time to make you a settlement offer.
A personal injury lawyer won’t let you be harassed in this way, but it is always a good idea to have as much evidence ready as possible when building your case.
That can include powerful evidence found on the scene, moments after a collision. If you are strong enough after an impact, try to secure these details:
- Call 911. Give a full report to the police and allow paramedics to check every pain you experience.
- Gather evidence through photos. Take pictures of the damage to the big rig and your car and show license plates. Take photos of any signs indicating the company or business the driver works for.
- Note any security cameras. Get addresses for businesses or homes that may have gotten footage as the accident took place.
- Get information from any witnesses on the scene. Get their addresses and phone numbers. If they want to write down what they saw, make sure they sign and date it.
- Exchange information with the truck driver. Don’t make any statements about accident fault or your injuries to the driver or anyone representing their company or insurance provider later on the phone.
- See your physician. Get all injuries documented. Pay special attention to any pain that arises in the days after an accident. This may be a sign of a hidden injury that was masked originally by the shock of the crash.
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer Serving California
Getting injured in a collision involving a large, heavy vehicle can leave you vulnerable during recovery when insurance companies jump in and try to control the outcome of insurance claims. You should be focused on your healing and rehabilitation while an experienced California Truck Accident Lawyer handles every confrontation with insurance adjusters.
Martin Gasparian, founded Maison Law, to protect victims from the predatory practices of insurance companies. Contact him for a free consultation to make sure you and your family know exactly what your injury and your physical and emotional pain are worth.
