Driving any type of vehicle can be complicated, and even overwhelming, when you are navigating through traffic, unfamiliar roads, or hazardous conditions. However, navigating a large vehicle like a recreational vehicle, commonly known as an RV, or a motorhome can be extremely dangerous, both for the driver and their passengers, as well as all those that they are sharing the road with. When it comes to most large vehicles, such as 18-wheelers and passenger buses, the driver is required to carry additional licensing such as a commercial driver license, but this is not the case with many RVs and motorhomes, meaning that you do not have the added peace of mind of the driver’s advanced training when you are driving alongside one of these large vehicles on the open road.
If you have been involved in an accident with an RV or motorhome, then you likely already know how destructive these massive vehicles can be during a crash. What you may not yet realize, though, is how complicated it can be to get the money that you rightfully deserve through filing an insurance claim with the RV driver’s insurance company.
Contact Injury Trial Lawyers, APC To Discuss Your RV or Motorhome Accident Today
The sooner you are partnered with a San Diego RV accident attorneys who can help you fight for a settlement or insurance payment that you deserve, the sooner you will be able to focus on your own personal needs such as your recovery and professional life without worrying about your legal issues. Stress is routinely found to have a significant negative impact on recovery from physical injuries, and your situation following an RV accident will be no different. By having an attorney take on the insurance company for you, you will be able to avoid this added stress so that you can prioritize what is truly important: your own life and recovery.
Read more below about RV and motorhome accidents, and contact our San Diego RV accident attorneys as soon as possible for a free initial consultation about your case.
Who Can Drive an RV or Motorhome?
In 34 of the 50 states, drivers are not required to carry ANY additional licensing to operate an RV or motorhome, whereas 7 states require a commercial license, and 9 require a non-commercial special driver’s license to be able to operate these large vehicles. Which state takes the correct approach is up to interpretation, but if you are involved in an accident with someone who has no additional licensing and caused the crash due to inexperience or carelessness, you will likely find yourself wondering how they could have possibly been allowed to drive such a large vehicle without more certification.
What To Do After an Accident With an RV or Motorhome
As with any accident, the first thing to do after being in an accident with an RV or motorhome is to assess the situation and make sure that you prioritize your health above all. Once you have taken care of your own needs, the next step is to try to provide care or support for your passengers. These are your two main focuses throughout the entire process. It is important that you do not let your emotions or adrenaline get the best of you, because after a scary experience like being involved in an accident with an RV, it can be easy to escalate the situation. Stay calm.
Call 911 as soon as possible so that the first responders can get to the scene of the accident and take over. Once they arrive, you can simply follow their instructions and get medical attention on site. Once the EMTs look at your injuries, they will be able to make a recommendation about whether you should take an ambulance to the emergency room, or if you are safe to leave under your own power. If you do leave on your own, you should book an appointment with your primary care physician immediately – both to get medical care, AND to establish a record of your injuries. These records will be particularly helpful when it comes time to file your insurance claim.
At the same time that you are handling your initial medical needs, you should hire an attorney who can take on the time-consuming and stress-inducing process of filing an insurance claim while you focus on getting the care that you need and deserve. When you have a legal professional handling all communications with the insurance company, you won’t need to worry about making innocent slip-ups that can come back to haunt you when it comes time to negotiate a settlement.
Calculating Damages After an RV Accident
Calculating the damages owed to a victim after an RV accident is a complex, involved process that takes a close look at many of the impacts of the crash, both financial and non-financial in nature. When a claims adjuster is assigned to your case, they will ostensibly use their investigation in order to identify all of the different damages that entitle you to additional compensation, but what they are actually doing is trying to identify all of the ways to limit the amount that they ultimately award to you.
The team at Injury Trial Lawyers, APC understands the complexity of these types of cases, and approaches the investigation with compassion and expertise in order to identify ALL of the damages that you have suffered, including the emotional trauma that you have endured, the pain and suffering of your injuries, and more.