Sharing road space with big rigs is a safety risk that Arizona motorists take almost every day. The size and weight difference between fully loaded tractor-trailers and passenger cars creates extreme danger when collisions happen. While most truckers are highly trained and skilled, they are only human, and the slightest mistake can have deadly consequences. Considering the volume of freight transported by trucks, the large number of injury and death claims against negligent trucking companies is not surprising.
In the immediate aftermath of a crash, the first concern is medical treatment for the injured. However, victims should also obtain a copy of the incident report as soon as possible. Investigating officers typically list obvious contributing factors to a crash on the report as well as the exact name of the trucking company involved. All of this information is important when filing a claim. Incident reports often include witness statements and contact information useful in higher-level investigations completed in the course of a liability claim.
Time is of the essence when it comes to a truck accident claim. Trucking companies and their insurers often deploy claims investigators to the scene of the crash in efforts to capture evidence and be the first to get witness statements. Therefore, injured parties and their families should hire a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible to examine physical evidence such as skid marks and other roadway factors that can help forensically describe the incident and its causes.
While the process of filing a claim is simple, the investigation behind it can be very complex. Truck accident lawyers work with engineers and safety consultants to identify and hold accountable those responsible for a commercial truck accidents. Injured parties should consider retaining a good attorney as soon as possible after a crash.