Mississippi’s climate allows for year-round construction to take place, both on our roads and on construction sites. Unfortunately, construction vehicles are a frequent cause of injury to motorists and pedestrians who come close to construction sites. If you are injured by a construction vehicle, you will need to seek medical help immediately, document the accident if you are able, and contact an experienced personal injury attorney.
If you or a loved one was injured by a construction vehicle, you will need to have experienced counsel help you attain your fair share of compensation for your injury and recovery. Barrett Law has the experience to help you—contact us now at (800) 707-9577.
What to Do After You or a Loved One is Struck by a Construction Vehicle
We have all heard that sound—beep, beep, beep—of a massive backhoe or bulldozer moving backward towards us. Construction vehicles require those annoying backup alarms because they are massive vehicles with limited visibility and a propensity to crush unsuspecting pedestrians and other drivers. While responsible operators drive many of these construction vehicles, others are not. Sleepy, drunk, and otherwise impaired driving is a problem in the construction industry, just as it is in the rest of our community. Other heavy machinery operators are not impaired but are operating a vehicle in tight conditions with insufficient visibility. Poorly loaded vehicles and inclement weather also frequently result in accidents.
Negligence in Mississippi
Merely being in an accident with a piece of construction machinery will not guarantee you compensation for injuries and damages related to the collision. To successfully attain your fair share of compensation, you will need to prove that the driver, the construction company, or the manufacturer of the vehicle was negligent. Negligent means that a third party had a duty to reasonably protect you from harm and failed to meet that duty. It can mean that the driver was not appropriately trained, was under the influence of a controlled substance, or drove the construction vehicle in an unsafe manner. Additionally, the manufacturer could be to blame for selling an inherently dangerous construction vehicle, such as a vehicle that lacked adequate visibility or failed to have a backup warning alarm.
Steps to Take After an Accident
If you are physically able, take as many photographs as possible following an accident with a construction vehicle. Insurance companies frequently move in quickly following an accident and move or remove vehicles, destroying crucial evidence. Your real-time photos may prove to be vital to your case.
See a physician immediately. No matter how seemingly minor your accident was, see a physician immediately. First, you are likely in shock and are not a good judge of your physical condition. Second, even if you feel uninjured, you want a third party to document your physical condition immediately after an accident in case injuries arise later. Finally, most soft tissue, neck, and back injuries take days or weeks to develop, and you will want to make sure X-rays, and other documentation are made in close temporal proximity to the accident.
What Should You Do If You or a Loved One Has Been Injured by a Construction Vehicle?
If a construction vehicle driver’s negligence injured you or a loved one, you may require extensive, expensive medical treatment and can result in years of trauma and lost income. You likely need a new car. Loss of work may imperil your lifestyle and livelihood. Tragically, inexperienced counsel may lead you down a dead-end where you receive no compensation for your injuries and damages. Instead, let experienced personal injury counsel take care of discovering who is at fault for your burn injury, preserving your medical records, attaining expert opinions, documenting the accident scene, and dealing with the defendant’s attorneys. These are essential tasks that only a personal injury attorney can handle for you.
Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney Jonathan Barrett will zealously represent you if you have suffered a serious injury due to negligence. Contact Barrett Law now at (800) 707-9577.
