My Spouse Was in a Truck Accident. What Do I Need to Know?
First, if your husband or wife was injured in an accident involving a large truck or bus, you have our condolences. We know all too well the devastating nature of these crashes and the terrible injuries and disabilities they leave in their wake. We’re truly sorry that your family is going through something that no family should ever have to experience.
In addition to the serious injuries that victims suffer, truck wrecks often disrupt and unsettle the lives of victims’ spouses and loved ones. If your spouse was hurt in a wreck, you may be feeling overwhelmed, confused, frightened, angry, and sad all at once, and that’s completely normal for people who are thrown into this situation.
To help, we’ve drawn on our experiences helping the families of hundreds of truck wreck victims and written a few tips about what you should know and what you can do to help your loved one through this incredibly difficult time.
Tip #1: Make Sure Your Loved One Gets the Medical Care They Need
Crashes involving tractor-trailers and other types of large trucks tend to create incredible devastation, so there’s usually not much chance of the victim walking away from the scene without receiving immediate medical treatment.
But even if your spouse received emergency care to stabilize their condition, it’s probably just the beginning of a long recovery journey — one that may never end. Your spouse may need multiple surgeries and other types of long-term care, like ongoing physical therapy and rehabilitation.
Sometimes, truck accident victims get discouraged with physical therapy and other long-term treatments, especially if they don’t see results at first. The schedule of treatment can seem overwhelming, and they may start to miss follow-up appointments or not follow through on treatments and exercises their doctors recommend. This can be especially true if your spouse is struggling with depression, which is very common among truck wreck victims who have suffered debilitating injuries.
You can help support your spouse through this long and sometimes exhausting process. Make sure they attend all the follow-up appointments that their doctor recommends, including physical therapy and rehabilitation. And encourage them to follow their doctor’s advice as closely as possible.
Your spouse might also get tired of talking about their health. They may try to avoid what they see as “complaining” about the various pains and health problems they’re experiencing. But it’s important to tell their doctor about any new symptoms or complications that crop up in the weeks and months after the truck crash.
Some symptoms of serious injuries only appear weeks or even months after the initial trauma, especially in victims who have suffered traumatic brain injuries or spine injuries. These complications are serious, and they require evaluation from a doctor.
Tip #2: Document and Organize Everything You Can
Your spouse may have a legal case against the truck driver or trucking company. Filing a lawsuit could provide much-needed compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. However, their personal injury case will require lots of evidence. Because your spouse most likely has their hands full with their health and recovery after the wreck, it’s important for you to help them gather and organize this evidence.
All the following items play an important role in a trucking accident lawsuit:
- Medical bills
- Records of travel costs and other expenses that are related to medical treatment
- Police reports
- Photos from the scene of the crash
- Contact information from witnesses
In addition, it’s important to maintain a record of your spouse’s experiences and emotional journey in the aftermath of the wreck. Encourage them to keep a diary where they can write down their physical, psychological, and emotional experiences as they work to recover from their injuries and learn how to live with new restrictions, limitations, and health issues.
LEARN MORE: Follow This Checklist After a Trucking Accident
Tip #3: Contact an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer Who Can Help
This tip is probably the most important of all. An attorney with a track record of successfully handling truck wreck cases can help you manage the tips above along with many other aspects of your loved one’s recovery and legal case. Even if you do your best to help your loved one in any way you can after the crash, it’s probably not enough from the standpoint of their lawsuit.
The trucking company and its insurance company have enormous resources that no family can match. They have legal teams on retainer, including “rapid response” teams of attorneys and investigators who will show up to the scene of a crash within hours and begin looking for evidence they can use to protect themselves against any potential lawsuit. It may be your first time dealing with the incredible trauma of a tractor-trailer crash, and you’re just trying to gather your wits and keep your head above water. But the insurance company’s lawyers and investigators know exactly what to look for and what they can do to undermine your spouse’s claim for compensation.
The insurance company may also begin making offers to compensate your family. They might ask you to sign a release while you’re confused, overwhelmed, and looking for help as medical bills rise and you have suddenly lost your spouse’s income. The amount they offer probably won’t even come close to addressing the long-term costs of your spouse’s injuries. But it’s difficult to know that when you’re just coming to terms with a serious, life-altering injury.
All of this makes it extremely important to contact an experienced truck accident lawyer as soon as possible after the crash. An attorney who knows how to handle these complex cases should be able to move quickly, making sure that your loved one’s rights are protected and that key evidence in your case gets preserved.
Best of all, if the attorney offers free initial consultations, then you can get an expert assessment of your legal case and your options at no charge or financial risk to you. During an emotionally isolating and financially stressful ordeal, that’s one piece of good news you shouldn’t take for granted.
Contact Truck Wreck Justice if Someone You Love Has Been Hurt in a Trucking Accident
If your spouse has been injured in a crash involving a large truck or bus, Truck Wreck Justice Attorney Morgan Adams is here to help. With years of experience and a sole focus on large truck and bus crash cases, Morgan Adams is a powerful advocate for trucking accident victims. He is an experienced trial lawyer who won’t hesitate to fight for your rights in court.
Please contact Morgan Adams at (866) 580-4878 or fill out a quick and easy online contact form if you need legal representation or help of any kind after a devastating truck accident. Truck Wreck Justice also offers free initial consultations, and we handle cases on a contingent fee basis. That means you won’t pay attorney’s fees or case expenses unless we help your family get financial compensation for your loved one’s injuries.
The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.
