When truck accidents in Portland happen, it is often other motorists on the road who suffer the most severe injuries. In many cases, the trucking company and their insurers are ultimately the ones you will be dealing with when filing a claim. These companies are likely to play hardball in terms of denying or downplaying your claim. The following tips can help ensure you get the amount you are entitled to for your truck accident injuries.
Important Steps When Filing a Truck Accident Claim
According to statistics from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), nearly 3,000 truck accidents occur each year throughout the state. Other motorists often face the brunt of the impact. Trucking companies can be held liable for their actions or precautions they failed to take, which may have contributed to the accident and your injuries.
To protect yourself and your rights in filing an injury claim against the trucking company, take the following steps in the immediate aftermath of a crash:
- Notify law enforcement immediately;
- Get the name of the driver, their insurer, and the company they work for;
- Make note of the exact time and location where the truck accident happened;
- Make note of any witnesses at the scene or other drivers involved;
- Get medical attention as soon as possible and follow all of your doctor’s instructions.
In addition to notifying the insurance company for the at-fault driver, notify the trucking company and inform them of your intention to file a claim. Avoid making any statements about the crash or your injuries, which could be used against you, prior to speaking with our Portland truck accident attorney.
Tactics Trucking Companies and Their Insurers Are Likely to Employ After a Truck Accident
Attempting to put the blame solely on the driver or attempting to blame you for contributing to the crash are tactics the trucking company and their insurers are likely to use to deny your claim. Being aware of the ways they may be liable can help ensure you get the compensation you are entitled to in a claim.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA), trucking companies may be responsible for truck accidents as a result of the following:
- Failure to properly vet drivers they hire;
- Failure to provide the proper training;
- Failure to revoke a driver’s privileges due to driving infractions;
- Failure to properly maintain trucks in their fleet;
- Failure to follow safety practices in terms of driver scheduling and break times.
In addition to denying liability for a truck accident, another common tactic trucking companies and their insurers are likely to employ is downplaying the extent of the injuries. Keep thorough records of all doctor visits, lost wages, and other impacts you suffer as a result of your injuries.
Let Us Help You Today
Trucking companies and their insurers have teams of attorneys on their side. Get the Johnston Law Firm, P.C. on yours. To request a consultation regarding how we can help, call (503) 546-3167 or contact our Portland truck accident attorneys online today.