The 10 Do's and Dont's After Truck Accidents
Las Vegas, Nevada
What to do when injured in a truck accident in Las Vegas
We compiled a list of DOs and DONTs for people injured in an accident involving large commercial vehicles - large trucks, semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, big rigs, or 18 wheelers. For further information, contact our office at 702-432-1000 and ask to speak with a truck accident attorney.
We represent clients in Las Vegas and everywhere else in Nevada.
The DOs
• DO get medical attention first. Can you move? Accidents involving large trucks, semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, big rigs, or 18 wheelers could be devastating and require expensive and, in some cases, long-term medical care. So, first, seek medical help. Even if you feel you are probably okay, still see a medical professional.
• DO speak with a truck accident attorney before reporting the accident to your motor vehicle insurance company. Ideally, if your accident involving a commercial truck resulted in a severe injury, you shouldn't speak with any insurance company without your attorney present.
• DO document the location, day, and time of your accident, traffic lights, weather conditions, and road conditions; ask who the truck owner is and the company name that hired the truck driver. Was the truck rented? Some trucks are owner-operated, and some are rented. Take many videos and photos of the accident scene. If you are injured and can't do it yourself, ask somebody around you to do it for you. You will need these photos and videos to file the insurance liability claim.
• DO record the eyewitness's information. If you are seriously injured and can't talk to eyewitnesses yourself, ask somebody who accompanied you to record the eyewitness information.
• DO know that the trucking companies usually send the team of their investigators and attorneys to the accident location within 24 hours.
• DO make a note of how long it took the ambulance to arrive. When at the hospital, document the doctor's name and what did the doctor tell you. Save all hospital receipts.
• DO take many photos and videos of your injuries after the truck accident. Within the next few days after the accident, document everything you feel. Were you tired? Couldn't you easily follow your daily routine? Couldn't work? How many days did you miss at work? Did you get paid for the time off? Did your employer pay you while you were in a hospital or recuperating after the injury?
• DO know that the trucking companies usually operate interstate, and the company's main office could be in any part of the country. However, if the accident happened in Nevada, the lawsuit must originate in Nevada, and the Nevada truck accident attorney must file the liability claim on your behalf.
• DO know that Nevada is a comparative negligence state, which means that even if you are less than 51% at fault for an accident, you are still entitled to the settlement. If you want to know how this rule will apply to your accident, you need to speak with a truck accident attorney.
• DO know that the statute of limitation for all injury claims in Nevada is two (2) years from the date of an accident.
THE DON'Ts
• DON'T apologize. Even if you feel you may be at fault, still don't apologize. You don't know the whole story. Let your attorney help you to sort things out.
• DON'T say that you "feel okay" or "feel fine" when the adverse party insurance company calls you directly. It is not uncommon for the adverse party insurance to attempt to settle the injury claim with a claimant directly before the truck accident attorney who represents the victim is involved. Your conversations with the insurance company are recorded. Later, they may use something you said to deny or reduce the value of your truck accident liability claim. It's best NOT to give the insurance company any information unless it is in a highly structured and controlled setting and with your attorney's aid. Insurance adjusters are not your friends.
• DON'T disclose personal or financial information to the adverse party insurance.
• DON'T attempt to immediately return to your everyday activities even though they are still injured. Often people don't feel like their injuries are significant right after an accident. Only after a truck accident victim goes back to their daily routine do they begin feeling the injury (e.g., back pain, neck pain, head pain, etc.) Wait until your doctor releases you to work.
• DON'T post updates about your accident involving a commercial truck on social media, the progress of your truck accident lawsuit, or what you plan to use your settlement money on social media - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. Not only do your friends read your social media posts. The adverse party insurance adjusters also read your posts and compare what you tell your friends with what your truck accident attorney tells them. Even if you decide to delete your posts on social media later, the insurance company can subpoena your social media accounts and get the content of all your deleted posts.
• DON'T share your active lifestyle photos or videos shortly after an accident or while receiving medical treatment with your friends, relatives, or co-workers. One of these photos or videos, sooner or later, will appear at the insurance adjuster's desk.
• DON'T accept the first injury settlement offer from an insurance company without talking to the truck accident attorney first. You don't know what fair and full injury compensation is. If you suffered injuries in a truck accident, you don't know how to calculate the cost of your long-term treatment, lost wages, or the pain and suffering part of your settlement. Also, you can settle your claim only once with any given insurance company. After you get injury compensation and cash your check, your truck accident attorney cannot submit an insurance claim again and ask for more reimbursement, even if you need more treatment.
• DON'T try to handle your accident and injury claim yourself. The trucking industry is heavily regulated at the state and federal levels. These regulations include special driving licenses, inspections at the weight station, keeping sleep and break logs, and federal trucking safety regulations. Driven by profits, the trucking companies are not always complying with all safety regulations. It could cause an accident, but proving it can be difficult even for an experienced truck accident attorney. There is also a "black box," and the accident event data is involved. Without the attorney's help, you will be in a very disadvantaged situation.
• DON'T spend hours searching the Internet for what settlement to expect, the average compensation for truck accidents like yours, and how long it will take to settle a truck accident injury case. Your accident could be different from other people's accidents, and your injury compensation will also be different. Knowing other people's accident settlements may not help you. Instead, contact a truck accident attorney who can help you calculate what accident compensation you are entitled to and answer all your questions.
• DON'T hesitate to call us at Heshmati & Associates at 702-432-1000 with any questions.
We can help
If your collision with the truck, semi-truck, tractor-trailer, or 18-wheeler resulted in a severe injury, you end up in a hospital and require expensive medical treatment, call us at 702-432-1000 to speak with our truck accident attorney.
We work on a contingency basis. You pay no fees to us unless we settle your case or win at trial.
The initial consultation is always free.
Hablamos español.
We serve clients in Las Vegas, Summerlin, North Las Vegas, Henderson, and the rest of Nevada.
We also often represent out-of-towners who got injured while vacationing in Las Vegas or Nevada.
Last updated on February 3, 2024.
