What to Do After a Truck Accident in Colorado?
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The trucking industry in Colorado is indispensable; it not only allows for us to have access to the consumer goods we need every day, but it also provides hundreds of jobs in the state. However, the high volume of large trucks on the roads has its price: devastating trucking accidents. That’s why it’s important to turn to a Colorado truck accident attorney you can trust.
Every year thousands of large trucks are involved in crashes, many of which are fatal for the automobile occupants. All accidents are destructive, but truck accidents have additional complexities that need to be addressed; an experienced personal injury attorney who has represented truck accident victims before will know how to handle these types of cases. So, if you have been hurt after a truck accident, call Zinda Law Group today for a free case evaluation; our dedicated Colorado truck accident lawyers are ready to help you get your life back on track.
WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER A TRUCK ACCIDENT?
Getting into an accident can feel completely overwhelming, and you may be at a loss for what you should do next. The following overview of steps to take following a truck accident will help you prepare your case:
Contact the Police and Seek Medical Attention if Necessary
First, call 911. In addition to emergency medical response teams, police officers will be sent to the scene. In Colorado it is mandatory to report car accidents that result in any property damage or personal injury, no matter how small. Thus, even if you don’t think you need medical attention on the scene or if the property damage does not seem especially bad, you must still call the police to the scene.
Even if the damage seems minor and you are tempted to just handle the incident between you and the truck driver, keep in mind that hidden damage is very common, and it is always a better idea to involve the Colorado police. Ask how you can get a copy of the accident report you submit with them.
You may also feel fine at the accident scene, not experiencing any urgent medical concerns. Nonetheless, see a doctor, for many injuries can present themselves later on that may not be apparent to you at the scene; seeing a doctor preemptively can make sure that those injuries do not get any worse. Additionally, if you don’t see a doctor soon after the accident and later on a resulting injury becomes apparent to you, the truck driver’s insurance company may try to use the fact that you waited to argue that you are fabricating the claim.
Document Everything
In addition to filling out the police report on the scene, document everything yourself. Try taking pictures of the scene and the way the vehicles are positioned as well as of the surroundings; these might help prove how the accident occurred. Also take pictures of the vehicle damage and any injuries that you or your passengers sustained.
While on the scene, ask witnesses for their contact information and, if possible, for a documented explanation of what they saw happen. Additionally, ask the truck driver to provide you with his or her license information, insurance, and employer information. Although this information will be in the police report, it is still important to document it yourself.
After the accident continue to document everything. Every time you see a doctor for follow up care, record it, and keep any resulting bills and paperwork. If you are forced to take time off of work, document that as well. This will help your Colorado personal injury attorney establish damages in your case.
Notify Your Insurer
Notify your insurer about the accident within 24 hours; however, you do not need to provide them with extremely detailed information. Just let them know what happened, when and where, and who the truck driver was. If the insurer asks you for more information or asks you to record a statement, you can say no.
Remember, your insurance company has a dog in this fight too; they may try to elicit a response from you to suggest that you were negligent as well as the truck driver. Also, you may still be piecing the accident together, so your answers to their questions may not be entirely accurate, which can be difficult to correct later on. Wait to talk to your insurance company at great length until after you have secured a Colorado truck accident lawyer.
Contact a Zinda Law Group Colorado Truck Accident Attorney
Going through this process without an attorney can be overwhelming. Truck accident cases can be complex, especially when determining who is liable if the truck driver was on the job when you got in the accident, and what types of damages you can recover. An experienced Colorado personal injury attorney can help walk you through the process successfully. Plus, you won’t owe us anything unless we win. That’s our No Win No Fee guarantee.
Colorado Truck Accident faq’s
What Are Common Causes of Truck Accidents in CO?
Truck drivers have a job that depends on them getting to their locations as quickly as they can; ultimately, this results in a lot of driver error. Sometimes truckers spend too much of their day behind the wheel and fall asleep; other times they drive too fast or ignore dangerous road or weather conditions because of the pressure to meet their deadlines. Additionally, drivers operating large trucks can lose control when they are trying to merge on the I-70 corridor or navigate through a narrow mountain pass.
What Type of Compensation Might I Be Able to Receive?
When it comes to personal injury cases, plaintiffs are generally entitled to two types of damages: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages are easy to quantify, like your medical bills and physical therapy costs as well as lost past and future wages. Non-economic damages are more difficult to quantify; these damages cover things like emotional distress and pain and suffering.
In limited cases where the truck driver (or the truck company that employed the driver) exhibited “willful and wanton conduct,” acting without regard to consequences or the safety of others, exemplary damages may be awarded. These damages are essentially intended to punish the wrong doer for behaving so egregiously.
How Long Do I Have to File My Claim?
Every state has a statute of limitations for truck accident cases, which is a specific time period within which the plaintiff must take legal action, otherwise the claim is barred. In Colorado, the statute of limitations for personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits is three years. With the exception of some narrow circumstances, you need to begin the legal process before the three-year mark is up, otherwise you will lose your chance to bring the case.
Although you may think that is a long stretch of time, every day you wait increases the risk of witnesses disappearing or valuable evidence being tampered with, which can make your case more difficult to prove. This is why it is better to call an experienced Colorado truck accident lawyer sooner rather than later.
Who Do I Call After a Truck Accident?
After the police and your loved ones, your next call should be to a Colorado truck accident lawyer; a Colorado truck accident lawyer can navigate communications with your insurance company to best preserve your claim, can help document every piece of evidence, and can ultimately negotiate your claim for you with the opposing side. If negotiations don’t turn out as you hope, your lawyer can take the case to trial to get you the compensation you deserve. Having an experienced Colorado truck accident lawyer on your side can truly make or break your case, which is why Zinda Law Group is here to help.
contact zinda law group today
Your truck accident case may be complicated; we understand if you feel overwhelmed at times. An experienced Colorado truck accident attorney at Zinda Law Group can help you get through this challenging time in your life. Our experienced lawyers know how to pursue the maximum compensation available and how to walk you through every step of that process.
With all of the hardships you have already been subject to, one less thing to worry about is whether you can afford good legal representation. We will not charge you a thing unless we prevail in your case; that is our “No Win, No Fee Guarantee.” To get started, call us at (800) 863-5312 to schedule your first, free consultation.
Meetings with attorneys are available by appointment only.
