What Should I Do If a Truck Driver Blames Me for an Accident?

Commercial trucks serve an important purpose in our lives by keeping goods moving and employing thousands. But with so many big vehicles on our highways, the chances of colliding with one are very real. If you find yourself in this situation, you might ask yourself, “what I should do if a truck driver blames me for an accident?”

One thing you’ll want to do if you get blamed for a truck accident is to talk to an experienced attorney at Randall & Stump, Criminal Defense Attorneys. After years of fighting for compensation for those hurt in accidents, we understand how stressful and overwhelming it can be to pursue your claim. To schedule a free consultation of your case with a Charlotte truck accident lawyer, call us today at (980) 237-4579, or reach out through the online form.

Establishing Fault

You can’t control whether the truck driver or the insurance company will point the finger of fault at you. Being unjustly accused of causing an accident can be upsetting. The stress of the accusation can even hinder your recovery from your injuries. The good news is that while you can be accused of fault, you can take steps to show you weren’t to blame for a crash.

If a truck driver blames you for an accident, you should:

Request and Review the Police Report
The police should be called any time there is a vehicle accident. One of the best ways to establish fault can be through the report of responding police officers. Not only will the police note when and where the accident occurred, but the report might also include witness statements and be written in a way to assist in identifying the at-fault driver. In addition, it will note if any laws were broken and if any driver was cited.

Review Your Accident Records
If you or a passenger were able, you may have personal records of the accident, including pictures or video taken with a phone. These records may include the damage to your vehicle or proof of your injuries. You may have even captured witness statements or an admission of fault from the other driver. If you wrote down the details shortly after your crash, review those as well.

Determine if Accident Reconstruction is Needed
Depending on how serious your accident was and if the police report is inconclusive regarding fault, you may need to consider hiring an accident reconstructionist. These individuals are experts who investigate and analyze wrecks to determine fault.

The accident reconstructionist will examine the scene, review photos from the accident, look at any video that might be available from security or traffic cameras, read witness statements, and possibly even examine the vehicles involved in the crash. Sometimes, they might use a computer program to re-create the accident through a simulation.

Avoid Speaking to the Insurance Company
An important thing not to do if a truck driver blames you for an accident is to make an admission to the truck company’s insurer. Insurance companies are in business to avoid paying claims. An adjuster will attempt to speak to you about the accident, perhaps even feigning concern for your injuries and vehicle damage. But what they want is a quick settlement. By talking to them, you may inadvertently say something that can be used to undermine your claim.

Contact a Charlotte Truck Accident Lawyer Today

A truck accident is a serious matter and will leave you with medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. Since so much is on the line, there may be an increased likelihood the truck driver will try to blame you for the crash. You need the experienced Charlotte personal injury attorneys at Randall & Stump, Criminal Defense Attorneys on your side. For a free case consultation, contact us today at (980) 237-4579.