Trucks are a common sight on Maryland’s roads, and they play an important role in trade, retail, and other sectors. These vehicles are often transporting massive loads of cargo and can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. When a truck crashes into a passenger vehicle, the occupants of the smaller vehicle are likely to suffer serious injuries. Meanwhile, the truck driver often escapes with minimal injuries or no injuries at all.

Truck accidents occur more frequently than you may think. According to statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there were 55 fatal crashes involving large trucks and buses in Maryland in 2019. These accidents resulted in 59 deaths. Another 1,399 crashes resulted in 2, 055 injuries. If you sustained injuries because of a truck driver’s negligence, you should be able to get compensation.

Truck accidents often result in substantial medical expenses, lost wages resulting from time off from work, and extensive property damage. You may also wish to claim compensation for pain and suffering and other intangible losses. The more serious your injuries, the higher your losses will be. You will need to do everything you can to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. An important part of this is proving that you really suffered the injuries you claim. If you can’t do this, your claim is likely to get denied even if you were badly hurt. Let’s look at some of the things you can do to prove the severity of your injuries.

Be Careful What You Say and Do Following the Crash

The first thing you’re likely to do after an accident is check yourself for injuries. If it’s obvious that you have severe injuries, you’ll probably cry out in pain and want to go to the hospital. However, if your injuries seem minor, you may assure everyone that you’re fine. Unfortunately, many injuries don’t show symptoms until later when the adrenaline wears off. If you told the police at the scene that you were uninjured, this will go in the report and it could hurt your case later. Similarly, if eyewitnesses see you moving around freely, it may appear that you don’t have serious injuries.

After a truck accident, you should keep your comments to a minimum. When you speak to the police, state the facts but don’t give your opinion or make assumptions. And as any Maryland truck accident lawyer will tell you, you shouldn’t apologize to the other parties involved. This could be interpreted as acceptance of blame.

Get Medical Attention Immediately

If you get involved in a truck accident, it’s best to go to the doctor right away even if you feel relatively well. You may have suffered nerve damage or soft tissue injuries that won’t be symptomatic until later. The effects can be long-lasting and you’ll want to get compensation if the accident was not your fault.

Some victims who aren’t whisked off to hospital in an ambulance opt to go home and wait to see if they develop symptoms. However, when you wait, you give the truck driver’s insurance company an opportunity to dispute your claim. They will likely question whether your injuries are as serious as you claim or if you really suffered those injuries in the accident. When you go to the doctor right away, you create a link between the truck crash and the injuries you suffered. Make sure you mention all your physical and mental symptoms, don’t matter how minor they appear. The doctor’s report will play an important role in your claim for compensation.

Keep Your Activities to A Minimum if You Are Injured

Even after you file your insurance claim, you have to be careful. Don’t return to work before your doctor clears you or go to parties and other social events. If you’re seen doing things that you shouldn’t be able to do in light of your injuries, your compensation could be in jeopardy. You should also avoid lots of social media activity. Even if you’re using Instagram or Facebook to pass the time as you recover, your actions could be misinterpreted. You should definitely avoid posting about the accident, no matter how much you want to vent.

Contact A Maryland Truck Accident Attorney to Discuss Your Case

In addition to the above, you need to work closely with a truck accident lawyer in Maryland. This will ensure your rights are protected and you can recover your losses. Your attorney will assist you in identifying the proper defendant and quantifying all your losses. They will also gather evidence to help you support your claim and negotiate with the insurance company. If you want the best possible chance of getting fair compensation, reach out to Pinder Plotkin LLC today.