After an accident, do you know what the next steps to take are? Most people understand the importance of hiring an attorney who can assist with the claims process, filing lawsuits, and negotiate for a winning result on their behalf. More likely than not, however, after an accident, you are on your own and have yet to seek out an attorney’s assistance.

You can help the outcome of your case, however, by avoiding many of the common pitfalls that occur after someone gets into an accident. Glenda Cochran Associates Attorneys at Law can offer some suggestions that may be useful should you happen to get into an accident.

WHAT TO AVOID AFTER AN ACCIDENT

Keep your insurance company informed.

Insurance companies state in their policy that you must notify them immediately if you are in an accident. Focus first on treating your injuries and protecting your legal rights as well. Insurance companies are often at odds with your needs. Once you have a clear head, you can then focus on notifying the insurance company and the negotiation process.

Do not admit to anything.

After an accident, most of us have the initial reaction of saying “I’m sorry.” As you are relaying the details of the incident, state only the facts and be objective as possible about the situation. It will be up to the insurance companies to review the evidence and work out who was at fault for the accident.

Don’t ignore your injuries.

Do not try to cover up your injuries or pretend that you are not in pain. Remember that some injuries and the symptoms do not surface until much later on. Everything from internal organ damage, internal bleeding, to concussions and other head injuries. Do not sign any medical release forms. Get medical treatment right away and then consult with a Birmingham injury attorney for advice about your legal rights. Also, you are not obligated to provide your insurance company with a recorded “official statement,” as they can take that information and skew it for their own agenda.

The bottom line? After an accident, every element and every person involved can be an adversary. Your personal injury lawyer, however, is the one who will listen to your side of the story and is your advocate at this time. If you have been injured in an accident or because of another’s mistake, you should seek legal representation as soon as possible to protect yourself.

Call Glenda Cochran Associates Attorneys at Law to set up a free appointment.

The American Trucking Association reported that at least one out of every 15 individuals is working in the trucking industry. Each year, these truck drivers travel across miles and miles of road, carrying tens of billions of pounds of cargo. With these figures presented before us, and knowing that at any given moment, a truck is driving right alongside you—we never think about whether or not something will go wrong.

This is why truck accidents cause countless numbers of accidents each and every year, with thousands of people suffering severe injuries, some of which become fatal. The largest reason for this? Truck drivers are drifting by without adequate sleep.

HAS DRIVER FATIGUED BECOME AN INCREASING PROBLEM?

The federal government has stepped in to put a stop to drowsy driving and truck driver fatigue in particular. The agency that governs the trucking industry is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and they implemented regulations to encourage truck drivers to get more sleep.

The laws regulate the following:

• Drivers must not exceed the mileage limits
• Drivers must not exceed the hourly driving limits
• Drivers must stop to get rest if they have been driving for longer than 8 hours without a break
• Break times must last at least 30 minutes

A drowsy truck driver poses risks to other drivers in a similar way as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Lack of sleep over time affects judgment, focus, concentration, and the ability to retain information. So, for example, there was an obstacle on the road and the truck driver was unable to react quickly enough to avoid it. The driver may brake suddenly, causing the truck to skid, jackknife, or worse.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS—CALL US!

If you have been injured in a truck accident, and you believe that it was due to a drowsy driver, give us a call as soon as possible. Our Birmingham truck accident lawyers at Glenda Cochran Associates Attorneys at Law possess over 25 years of experience representing those who were unjustly hurt due to a negligent truck driver.

Call (888) 906-3955 and request a free case consultation.