3 Steps to Take After a Truck Accident in Austin, TX

Truck accidents are fairly common in Austin, Texas. Unfortunately, what’s not as common is injured victims obtaining the justice they deserve. After a truck accident, it’s important for anyone who is hurt or who loses a loved one to understand that there are certain steps to follow that will help ensure their rights are protected, especially if the truck accident resulted from someone’s negligent driving. It’s also important to know that as a victim, you have the right to obtain legal counsel with an Austin truck accident attorney.


Below are three steps to take after a truck accident in Austin, TX:
Step #1: Access your injuries and call for help. Before doing anything, make sure you and your passengers are ok. If you or someone is seriously hurt, are impaled, or unconscious, do not try to move them. Instead, call 911 immediately, as well as local police for assistance. Collisions with trucks can often lead to far greater injuries than those with standard passenger automobiles due to the sheer size and weight of the commercial vehicle. As a result, victims can suffer neck and spinal cord injuries, brain trauma, and even limb loss. Moving someone who suffers neck or spine injuries can result in permanent damage.
Step #2: Document the accident. If you or someone else in your party is able to, document the details of the crash as much as possible. Take pictures of the accident scene, visible victim injuries as well as your own, and note any other evidence that can help establish your case. Also, if the accident was caused by the truck driver, notate their condition as well as the condition of their vehicle. Write down whether the driver appeared intoxicated or fatigued. Many truck accidents occur because the driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs or because they are excessively tired from driving long hours. Also, examine the condition of their vehicle. Does the truck appear to have been overloaded? Did any equipment become unhinged? Then the vehicle may have been poorly maintained or have been carrying cargo that exceeded the maximum allowable weight. In these instances, both the truck driver and their employer may be held responsible.
Step #3: Contact a truck accident attorney. After you call 911 and the police, as well as document the facts of the accident, seek legal counsel. Find a truck accident lawyer in Austin that has experience dealing with truck collisions and request a consultation. When you speak with the attorney, provide them will any and all documents you might have pertaining to the accident, including the notes you took at the crash site, medical records showing the extent of your injuries, and estimates for the repair of your car. Try to obtain legal assistance as quickly as you can. In the state of Texas, victims only have two years from the time of the accident to file a personal injury claim. The sooner you contact an attorney, the faster they can start to build your case and the faster you’ll be able to recover damages.