Shelbyville Truck Accident FAQ

1. What should I do after a truck accident?

The minutes, hours, and days immediately following a truck accident can be both confusing and also extremely critical for your health and chances of recovering future compensation. If you were just involved in a truck accident, it’s vital that you:

• Get medical attention right away.

Whether you were treated by paramedics at the scene of the accident or left without getting any medical attention, it’s still vital that you get a full check-up from a doctor. Not only will a check-up help rule out any internal injuries, but it will also create a medical report that can be used when building your auto accident claim. A medical report serves as valuable evidence about the severity of your injuries and can link them to the accident.

• Contact your insurance company.

Most insurance policies require that drivers report all accidents immediately after they happen, so it’s in your best interests to call your provider as soon as possible. However, you should also know that insurance companies often use their customers’ words against them to reduce or deny settlements. That’s why you should limit your conversation and never discuss details of the accident with the insurance adjuster or representative.

• Contact an experienced Shelbyville truck accident lawyer.

After you’ve received medical attention and contacted your insurance company, you should get in touch with an attorney who specializes in truck accidents. Because of their uniquely destructive and dangerous nature, truck accidents can cause debilitating injuries, pain and suffering, and vehicular damage that you may not be able to afford. An attorney at Matt Hardin Law can help you get compensation for your accident-related expenses and help you put the accident behind you for good.

2. What causes truck accidents?

Like car accidents, truck accidents can have a wide variety of causes, and some are unavoidable due to unforeseen circumstances. However, many truck accidents are caused by negligence or preventable oversights by multiple parties, including:

• Excessive driving hours

Truck drivers are limited to the number of hours they’re allowed to drive in a single day or 24 hour period to reduce fatigue and sleepiness from interfering with their ability to concentrate on the road. However, some truck drivers and trucking companies knowingly exceed these limits to increase profits. Breaking these federal regulations can have serious consequences for both truck drivers and other motorists, as it makes them much more likely to cause accidents.

• Driving while intoxicated

Some truck drivers use alcohol and drugs before they get the behind the wheel or while they’re driving. Almost all mind-altering substances, including ones that are designed to help keep drivers awake for long periods of time, can cause cognitive impairments that can lead to unsafe driving behavior. Drivers who consume alcohol and drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter, are not only in violation of federal laws and trucking regulations, but they can also suffer from delayed reaction times, which can lead to deadly collisions.

• Negligent truck maintenance

Both truck drivers and trucking companies are responsible for maintaining their trucks and keeping them in good, road-worthy condition at all times. If they fail to perform proper maintenance on their trucks by filling up and replacing aging tires, repairing brakes, and securing any loose tire flaps or other potentially hazardous debris, they can not only cause serious accidents, but they can also be held responsible for any injuries that occur.

3. Why Should I Call Matt Hardin Law After my Accident?

When you’ve been hurt in a truck accident that wasn’t your fault, it’s vital that you get help from a law firm that knows truck accident cases and knows Tennessee laws. The Shelbyville truck accident attorneys at Matt Hardin Law have years of experience helping truck accident victims get maximum compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and we’ll fight to help you, too.

Just dial fill out a free online form, and we’ll get started on your case today.