Nobody ever plans to have an accident. But sometimes, despite our best efforts, accidents happen. If you’re involved in an accident while driving a delivery truck, you should do a few things to ensure everyone’s safety and protect your legal rights.
What Coverage Do Truck Drivers Have?
If you’re a truck driver, you likely have commercial truck insurance. This type of coverage differs from personal auto insurance in a few ways. Commercial truck insurance typically has much higher limits than private auto insurance. This is because trucks can cause a lot more damage than regular passenger vehicles. If You are in an accident, contact a truck accident attorney (Los Angeles) for more information on your situation.
Another key difference is that commercial truck insurance typically covers the truck itself and any cargo that may be inside. So, if you’re in an accident and your truck is damaged, your insurance should cover the repairs. Similarly, if your accident damages someone else’s property (like their car), your insurance should also cover those damages.
Are There Any Laws That Protect Truck Drivers?
Yes, a few laws are in place that specifically protect truck drivers. For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has regulations that govern how long truck drivers can be on the road. This is to prevent driver fatigue, which can lead to accidents.
The FMCSA also regulates how much weight trucks can carry. This is important because overweight trucks are more likely to be involved in accidents.
Finally, the FMCSA requires truck drivers to undergo regular drug and alcohol testing. This ensures that drivers are not under the influence while operating their trucks.
What To Do After The Accident
Check For Injuries
Check for injuries and call 911 if necessary. The first thing you should do after an accident is to check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If anyone is seriously injured or bleeding, call 911 immediately. It is important to note that not all injuries are visibly seen, and internal bleeding is common in accidents.
Move Your Vehicle
Move your vehicle to the side of the road and turn on your hazard lights. Once you’ve confirmed that everyone is okay, move your vehicle to the side of the road if possible. This will help prevent further accidents from happening. Then, turn on your hazard lights so that other drivers know the situation.
Exchange Information
Exchange information with the other driver/s involved in the accident. You’ll want to exchange insurance information with the other driver/s involved in the accident. Getting this information now will make filing an insurance claim later on much easier.
Take Photos
Take photos of the damages to all vehicles involved in the accident and any visible injuries sustained by you or your passengers. If you have a camera or smartphone with you, take pictures of the damages to all vehicles involved in the accident and any visible injuries sustained by you or your passengers. These photos will be helpful when filing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit later on down the line.
Contact Your Employer
Call your employer and let them know what happened as soon as possible After you’ve taken care of everything at the scene of the accident, call your employer and let them know what happened as soon as possible. Your employer will likely have their procedures for dealing with accidents involving company vehicles, so you must follow their instructions in the letter.
Contact An Experienced Attorney
Contact an experienced truck accident attorney (Los Angeles). Once you’ve taken care of everything at the scene of the accident and notified your employer, it’s time to contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can help protect your legal rights and get you the compensation you deserve under the law.
Final Thoughts
Accidents are never fun, but they’re incredibly stressful when they involve a commercial vehicle like a delivery truck. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, just remember to stay calm and follow these simple steps: check for injuries and call 911 if necessary; move your vehicle to the side of the road if possible and turn on your hazard lights; exchange information with the other driver’s involved; take photos of damages and injuries; call your employer, and contact an experienced personal injury attorney. Taking these steps will help ensure everyone’s safety and give you the best chance at getting fairly compensated for any damages incurred.
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