A 46 year old Shelbyville, Missouri man was killed in a semi-truck accident on U.S .20 near Jackson, Nebraska yesterday morning. The man was driving a minivan when he crossed a center line and struck the backend of a semi-truck before colliding with a garbage truck according to a police report. According to the Quincy Herald-Whig, the driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
The 41 year old garbage truck driver of Sioux City, Iowa was taken to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City where he was treated and released, however, the extent of his injuries were not reported. The driver of the semi-truck was not reported as injured in the police report.
There are many causes of auto accidents or a semi-truck accident and investigators will have to examine the physical terrain and witness statements to determine the causes of this accident.
The most common cause of accidents is inattention. Inattention can be attributed to a variety of factors from alcohol and drug use to fatigue to distracted driving. Unfortunately, it takes only a few seconds of inattention to the road to cause a collision that can result in serious injuries or fatalities. Helping auto accident victims cope with the aftermath of an accident is what we do. When someone’s life is turned upside down by an auto accident, dealing with an insurance company or filing claims can be daunting to victims and families of victims.
If you are in a serious auto accident, there are some essential things you should do. If you are injured and are taken from the scene for medical care, then you cannot document the scene or get witness statements. Your first priority is getting medical care. There are some things that you and your family should do following an auto accident of any kind:
- Do not Sign anything from an insurance company including statements or releases- the first 30-60 days after an accident, you probably do not know the extent of your injuries. If you are badly injured or if the victim died, then the insurance company will be eager to settle quickly with you. This does not always work in your best interest even though wrapping it up and moving forward seems like the most beneficial for you—it may not be best in the light of the injuries and medical care in the coming months. Give your body and doctors time to monitor your healing and determine the full extent of your injuries. Sometimes when you are seriously injured, medical experts will not know the extent of your required medical treatment for several weeks as they monitor how you heal.
- Do not give any statements about the crash to ANY insurance company. You may be on pain medication and any answers that you give may be skewed due to the trauma and medication. It is your right to decline to give a statement until you are medically able.
- Contact a personal injury attorney at your first opportunity. Personal injury attorneys work on contingency and offer free consultations, meaning you are not charged for free advice given. One of our attorneys will be happy to talk with you and meet with you if needed to assess your situation such as insurance information, your medical progress and your options. It is important that you not make any settlements with an insurance company until you retain legal representation.
- Be honest. That seems so simple right? Why would a personal injury attorney tell you not to talk with an insurance adjuster if your plan was just to be honest? We do not advocate that you ever be dishonest. But, that does not mean that you should have to answer questions about a traumatic event and then have the information used against you. Give only factual information for the police report; do not insert any “I feel” statements. Officers need facts only for their report and often will not make determinations of cause until some investigation occurs. Police reports are not the end-all of investigations, but merely the first step. However, giving false information in a police report is Never a good idea.
You may not need an attorney. There are only some situations that require that you get an attorney. You only need an attorney if you have been injured. And the only other reason you need an attorney is if the other party is claiming the accident is your fault. You may think that your insurance company is on your side. While you have paid premiums every month, you would think they are on your side. That’s the way it is supposed to work? Frankly, all insurance companies work for their shareholders and in doing so, their goal is to pay out as little as possible for every claim which is not always in your best interest if you are seriously injured. You may need to file a personal injury claim if you are seriously injured or family of a victim killed may have to file a wrongful death claim.
An expert personal injury attorney who is experienced in auto accidents and truck accidents is critical after an accident just to be certain your rights are represented. An auto accident or semi-truck accident can have serious impact on your ability to work and enjoy life; therefore, fair compensation is due. Unfortunately, it is sometimes very difficult to get “fair” compensation. Our attorneys at The Cagle Law Firm know that if you are seriously injured, then you cannot make a trip to our office. In most cases, we come to you whether you are in Missouri or Illinois. Call (314) 276-1681 or toll free (800) 685-3302 for free information to help you through the process. Calling does not mean you have to file a lawsuit. If you do not call us, call an attorney that you know and trust and ask them to refer you to an expert persona injury attorney as the days and weeks following your accident are filled with critical decisions.
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