Vicksburg Truck Accidents
Have You Been Hit by a Commercial Truck in or Around Vicksburg?
Vicksburg, Mississippi is a city with lots of people coming and going. From Civil War battle sites and National Military Park, to the casinos, museums, and aquarium, Vicksburg is rich in not only history and entertainment, but also in traffic and big rig trucks. Unfortunately, with more traffic – and more trucks – come more 18-wheeler trucking accidents. In Vicksburg and surrounding areas like Beechwood, Antioch, Yokena, and Bovina, major roads and highways, such as Interstate 20, U.S. Highway 61, U.S. Highway 80, Highway 27, and Mississippi 3, have been notorious for catastrophic truck accidents. Although any type of motor vehicle wreck can be devastating, collisions involving tractor trailer trucks can be especially tragic as bigger and heavier vehicles can, and often do, cause significant damage and serious injuries. Our Vicksburg truck accident attorneys recognize the serious dangers posed by commercial trucks that are not operated safely. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in this type of crash, contact us today to speak with a lawyer about your rights and how we can help.
Truck Accidents in Vicksburg, MS
The first thing that you should always do immediately following a collision with a truck is to call the police. The emergency dispatchers may ask you if you need emergency medical assistance, and if so, you can let them know that you do. Emergency dispatchers will contact the closest emergency medical technician (EMT) or ambulance service and law enforcement. Ambulances and EMTs often arrive at an accident scene before law enforcement, and if you are in need of emergency medical care, you may be transported to a facility like Merit Health River Region. If you are critically injured, you may be airlifted to University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.
Depending on where the accident took place, the Vicksburg Police Department, Warren County Sheriff’s Department, or Mississippi Highway Patrol may respond to the call. Since it may take law enforcement time to arrive at the scene, if any witnesses approach you to offer assistance or tell you that they saw what happened, get their contact information so that the police can call them if the witnesses cannot wait for the police to get there. Once law enforcement arrives, be sure to provide a truthful account of what happened, so that the responding officers can get an accurate report. Although insurance companies and courts may consider a wide variety of information to determine the facts, they may rely on information contained in the police report to help with the investigation.
Meeting the Legal Elements Needed to Prove Your Case
Insurance companies for trucking companies can respond to an accident without your best interests in mind. For instance, they could try to make low ball early offers on your injury case, or they may never contact you. In either scenario, it is important to seek representation with an experienced truck accident attorney in the Vicksburg area who can guide you through the process of getting you compensated for your property damage, medical bills, injuries, pain and suffering, mental distress, and lost wages. Many times, the foundation for recovering rightful damages is laid during the early stages of the case.
Interstate truck drivers, and their employers, are subject to federal trucking regulations through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). A key step in building a case is to prove that the at-fault party was negligent or breached a legal duty – this basically means that you have to prove that the other party broke the law or did something that a reasonable person would not have done. This can be straightforward if law enforcement issued a citation to the truck driver for driving under the influence (DUI), speeding, distracted driving, texting while driving, speeding, failing to stop at stop sign, running a red light, failing to maintain a safe lookout, or failing to yield right of way to oncoming traffic. However, even if law enforcement did not issue a citation to the truck driver, witness statements, examining the accident scene, and inspecting the property damage can also help establish your case. These are steps our Vicksburg truck accident lawyers regularly take on behalf of clients. We also have the resources to retain the necessary expert witnesses to prove your case.
Once liability has been established, your truck accident attorney can then help compile your evidence of how you have endured loss or damage due to the wreck. It is important to remember that it is the injured victim’s burden to prove your damages, so be sure to get plenty of documentation of your injuries from medical providers, property damage from a reputable auto body repair shop, and lost wage information from your employer, for example. As your advocate, your attorney can help with this part of your claim too.
Contact Our Truck Accident Lawyers in Vicksburg
Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz has been handling big rig truck accident cases for more than 30 years, and with more than 30 lawyers and 120 support staff, we have the resources to provide Vicksburg residents the care and attention needed to get fair compensation following the crash. Our legal team understands the importance of getting started on case quickly, and we can help build your case by surveying the accident scene, inspecting damages, and hiring experts when needed. To learn how our auto accident attorneys can get started on your case immediately, contact our personal injury attorneys at 800-529-4004 or through our online form.