What to Do When You Are in an Accident With a Commercial Vehicle in California

While some are more damaging than others, no car accident is good news. In the blink of an eye, you could be subjected to catastrophic physical injuries and psychological damage that could potentially last a lifetime. If the other vehicle involved in the accident is a commercial vehicle, then the steps forward can be much more complicated.

Even if the commercial vehicle was clearly the negligent party, they are backed by a company that is going to do everything in its power to dodge their responsibility of compensating you for your injuries. Remembering a few simple steps can increase your chances of being able to collect the money that you deserve.

The best defense, however, is always an experienced commercial vehicle accident attorney like those at the Los Angeles Injury Group.

What to Do After a California Commercial Vehicle Car Accident

The first steps that you should take after being involved in a commercial vehicle accident in California are the same necessary steps you take with a non-commercial vehicle. You should first protect your own physical safety and move the vehicles out of the roadway and off to the shoulder if possible. If not, first responders can use road flares or traffic cones to alert oncoming traffic and to help guide them safely around the accident scene.

Once you’re safe, the police need to be called immediately. Information should then be exchanged between the drivers of all involved vehicles and the information of any passengers and witnesses as well. If you have a cell phone or a camera with you, you should use it to document the scene of the crash, the vehicles, and any injuries, as well as this evidence, can make a substantial difference in your claim. Finally, you should contact your insurance company and a personal injury attorney immediately.

Collisions with Commercial Vehicles

It can be challenging to prove that the driver of the commercial vehicle is at fault. Commercial vehicles are backed by companies who do not want to be held liable for the accident due to the higher insurance premiums they carry. The company that owns the vehicle will most likely try to do everything in its power to determine that you were at fault for the accident.

Commercial vehicles are governed by not only federal laws, but by individual state laws as well. A good California personal injury attorney is vital to helping hold the commercial driver accountable to the law and making sure that your rights are protected when you have been involved in a commercial vehicle accident.

California Car Accident Attorney

Contacting an attorney from the Los Angeles Injury Group will help ensure that your case is defended in the best way possible. Our thorough personal injury attorneys will gather all the information that you have about the commercial vehicle accident to use in your case and may be able to access cell phone records, driver’s safety records, vehicle inspection records, and other pieces of crucial evidence to help you secure your lawsuit.

With the right attorney, you will never feel like you are unnoticed or alone. For a free consultation with someone inside the Los Angeles Injury Group, please call 310-954-7248 today.