Truck accidents surge: Why no national outcry?

Fatal truck accidents happen nearly 11 times a day in the U.S. CNBC looks at the causes, who's to blame, and why it gets little attention.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/101875063

1800Victim2: What to Do if You've Been Injured in an Accident

When you've been the victim of a car accident, it’s important not to panic. Even a minor accident with little damage and no injuries can be a distressing experience. But it’s especially important to keep your head when an accident is serious. Your safety and the safety of others around you depends on it.

This simple checklist will help you get through the stressful first minutes after an accident, quickly and safely. For the well-being of everyone involved, you should work through these steps.

Take the following steps immediately:

Check for injuries. Have you been harmed? Are any of your passengers hurt? Do other drivers or passengers or pedestrians have injuries? If so, call an ambulance immediately. Don’t wait! Let the dispatcher know that there’s been an accident and tell them exactly where you are. Follow their instructions.

Get out of the way. If it’s possible, move all vehicles and people out of the street to a safe place. Don’t go far: make sure you are still at the scene of the accident when the police arrive.

Call the police. Dial 911 or another emergency response number and let them know about the accident. They’ll ask for important information: Has anyone been injured? Where are you? How many vehicles were involved? Answer their questions and follow their instructions.

Keep your cool. It’s important not to overreact after an accident. The situation might be very minor. But even when an accident is serious, the best thing to do is stay focused and behave responsibly. Don’t accept responsibility or blame others for the accident. Don’t argue with those involved or apologize for the accident. Relax and wait for help to arrive.

Now that you’ve dealt with the immediate needs, complete the next steps:

Collect information from other drivers. You’ll need a lot of information later to fill out paperwork. Take down all other drivers’ names, addresses, phone numbers, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers, and insurance company and policy information. The other drivers will need this information from you, too. It’s a good idea to collect other useful information if possible (make and model of vehicles, street names and numbers, names and addresses of witnesses, etc.).

Take photos of the scene. If you have a camera or a phone with a camera, take lots of pictures. A detailed photographic record of all damage to the vehicles and the people involved can be very useful later.

Get in touch with the right car accident lawyer. Many victims of car accidents turn their case over to the first attorney who answers the phone. This can be a mistake. Any firm can take your case. But many won’t give you the attention you deserve. Hire a firm with the right experience and a track record of success. Don’t find out too late that you’ve become a victim a second time: first in the accident and again when you use a lawyer who doesn’t put you first.

Call your insurance company. Report the accident to your insurance company. Make sure to report all injuries you have suffered, any injuries to others, and all vehicle damage.

See a doctor. After an accident, you might think you’re fine. But car accidents are traumatic events. Sometimes the true effects of an injury only show up later. Protect yourself by having a doctor examine you right away.

Greenstein & Milbauer, LLP, specializes in car accident cases in and around New York City. When you work with us, your case will get the special handling it needs. 

Don’t be a victim twice. 

Call 1-800-Victim-2 to get started.