4 Steps to Take After A Commercial Accident Injury

Most drivers have experienced an accident of some sort, some of which can have devastating consequences such as injuries and property damage. When you drive for a living, however, it’s much more likely that you’ll be involved in an accident--and the likelihood is also higher that it will involve multiple cars at that point, and cause a number of injuries.

This is why, if you have been a victim of a commercial vehicle accident, it’s so important to take the time and energy to find a trustworthy and experienced personal injury attorney. Often, because you are dealing with a larger company that assumes responsibility for the accident and its damages, the legal battles against these corporations and insurance companies can be difficult to undertake. Fighting against a team of lawyers with immense resources at their hands can be daunting, but the payoff of helping accident victims is one of the main perks of the job for many personal injury lawyers. 

For those of you who have recently experienced an accident that was caused by a commercial vehicle, such as a delivery truck, a tractor trailer, a public bus, or even a train, finding the right personal injury attorney is key to unlocking a successful trial or settlement. Here are a few quick tips that will help point you in the right direction. 

1. Rest and Heal--But Document Everything

After an accident, especially one that dealt the blow of serious, life-threatening injuries, the most important thing is to ensure that the healing process is not fraught with legal complications. While it may seem almost insurmountable when doctor’s bills are piling up, the most pertinent thing to do at this point is to document everything to prepare yourself for a personal injury suit. 

Every hospital bill, every insurance claim, every documentation of missed work are important parts of building a case against whoever was responsible for the accident, so save these while you are working at healing your body. Don’t throw away anything related to the suit and, if you can, document your pain levels as well as your attempts to improve them. 

2. Schedule Consultations with Several Attorneys To Find the Best One

The internet is a valuable tool and can be immensely helpful in allowing you to find a talented and resourceful lawyer to represent you during your personal injury suit. Many attorneys offer free consultations that allow you to obtain a few words of advice from an experienced attorney before deciding to hire them. Search for several in your area and schedule consultations with each--a video consultation is easiest for those homebound by injury. Sometimes, you will get differing advice from different attorneys, depending upon their skill level and their experience in the field--do some research and read client reviews before you make the jump into hiring someone if you’re not sure you trust their advice. 

After consulting with a variety of personal injury attorneys, choose the one that you believe suits you the best. 

3. Be Patient, This May Be A Long Process

It’s common knowledge that things move slowly in the legal realm, and this is especially true of personal injury cases, where sometimes years of failed negotiations will pass before both clients are ready to face one another in court. While many people don’t expect their case to be over and done with in an instant, the length of the process can be intensely frustrating, and has led many clients to take deals that do not begin to pay off the extent of the damage, just to end things. 

The best thing to practice is patience when you reach this point. The road may be long, but it will eventually end, and hopefully with a positive result. 

4. Be Ready For Things to Become More Complicated Before They Simplify

In a normal accident between two vehicles, the legal dispute often centers upon one or two insurance companies, at most. With commercial accidents and the complications that surround them, it can be hard for the layperson to parse through the layers of corporations, insurance companies, and individuals involved in a single case. As the process continues, it will only become more complicated, but the payoff of waiting and being prudent in your legal decision-making will pay off big time.