If you were involved in a truck accident, due to no fault of your own, the aftermath can be devastating. This is especially the case if this was a rollover accident. Continue reading to learn what you should do after being involved in a rollover accident and how one of the experienced Howard County truck accident attorneys at Lloyd J. Eisenberg & Associates can walk you through your claim.
What is a rollover accident?
Due to their heavy loads and massive size, a collision with a truck can be quite detrimental. A rollover accident is one in which a commercial vehicle, such as a truck, flips over on its side or roof as a result. The reason why this type of accident is so common among commercial vehicles is that they are taller than standard passenger vehicles and thus their center of gravity is higher. And so, with any drastic movement involved in an accident, they can easily flip over.
What are the common causes of rollover accidents in the state of Maryland?
Commonly, truck drivers themselves are at fault for rollover accidents. Truck driver negligence that may lead to such an accident can be seen in the following ways:
- Not leaving enough space before hitting the brake.
- Not slowing down before making a sharp turn.
- Not checking for large blind spots before changing lanes.
- Not driving under the speed limit.
- Driving while distracted, fatigued, intoxicated, etc.
But then there are other times when other parties are at fault for rollover accidents. For one, truck employees may be at fault if they did not equally distribute weight when loading the truck’s trailer. Or, truck employers may be responsible if they put drivers on the road after the legal limit of 11 hours in a 14-hour shift or 70 hours in a week. Lastly, truck manufacturers may be liable if they are found to be producing faulty, defective truck parts.
What should I do after being involved in a rollover accident?
Once you identify who is the at-fault party of your rollover accident, then you must pursue legal action against them. That is, you can work toward receiving financial compensation to recover your damages if you follow the below steps immediately after your accident:
- Call the police: they will conduct an official police report at the scene.
- Document the scene: take photos and videos of your injuries, vehicle damages, road hazards, etc.
- Collect information: ask for the contact information of all drivers involved, along with that of witnesses.
- Attend medical treatment: go to the ambulance at the scene and collect copies of medical documents that specify the date, time, and seriousness of your injuries.
- Schedule follow-up appointments: go to doctor’s appointments as directed and collect copies of medical bills that specify the total cost of your treatments.
- Hire a skilled Howard County auto accident attorney: contact us before Maryland’s statute of limitations of three years from the date of your accident.
