From driver fatigue to transporting too much cargo, there are various causes of commercial van, car, and truck accidents. If you were involved in a car wreck with a commercial driver who was on duty at the time, there could be several parties held legally responsible for the injuries you sustained. To increase the odds of a fair settlement or court verdict, here are steps you should take immediately following the crash. 

How to Handle an Accident With a Commercial Vehicle

1. Gather Evidence at the Scene

When you get into an accident with a driver of a commercial vehicle, their employer will likely send investigators to gather evidence at the scene and haul away the vehicle. Before this can happen, document everything you can about the car wreck. 

Take pictures, for instance, of skid marks and cargo on the pavement, road conditions, street signs (to prove the location of the accident), damage to your vehicle and the other car, license plates, and your injuries. You should also take down witness statements, as people who saw the crash can corroborate your version of events for the insurance claim or court case.

2. Exchange Information With the Other Driver

In addition to the other driver, their employer and the vehicle manufacturer could also be at fault for the commercial car, van, or truck accident. 

When you collect the driver's name, contact information, and personal liability insurance policy details, also make sure to ask for their employer's name, insurance information, and the make and model of the vehicle. During the exchange, don't make any statements admitting to fault, as the driver's lawyer or insurer could use this admission against you later.

3. Seek Follow-Up Medical Treatment

Regardless of whether you have visible injuries, call 911 to have paramedics arrive at the scene. They will check you for a concussion, whiplash, and other injuries that have delayed symptoms and provide emergency treatment for cuts, bruises, and broken bones. 

The chart detailing your injuries can be used as medical evidence to support your claim. Go to the emergency room or follow up with your primary care doctor afterward, as your ongoing treatment and rehabilitation will be used to calculate your settlement amount or economic and non-economic damages in a court case.

If you were injured in a car, van, or truck accident with a commercial driver, reach out to Reed & Terry LLP in Sugar Land, TX. With over 100 years of combined experience, the communicative personal injury attorneys will work to prove someone else's negligence caused you harm and that you are owed damages as a result. See how the counselors help clients in Harris and Fort Bend counties online, and call (281) 491-5000 for a consultation.