5 Things To Do When You Get Involved In A Truck Accident
Truck accidents are prevalent around the world. Aside from causing serious injury and death, truck accidents can also lead to significant financial loss for the accident victims. No matter what kind of vehicle you’re driving, you’ll incur costs related to your injuries if you’re involved in a truck accident.
There are many causes behind truck accidents. It could involve faulty vehicles, driving under the influence, or distracted driving. To learn more about this, you can find a lot of helpful resources online. If you get involved in a truck accident, you should be aware of the necessary steps you should take, and here are those:
- Report The Accident To The Authorities
Right after the accident, you would automatically call 911 to ask for help. The 911 dispatcher will call the local law enforcement and medical emergency responders. The police must be called because it’s the best way to get immediate documentation of the accident. The police are required to maintain accurate records of everything and everyone involved in the accident. These records are important if you’re going to file a case later on.
- Seek Medical Attention
The 911 dispatcher will also call medical emergency responders once they have all your information. Seeking medical attention immediately is essential because accidents involving trucks can cause serious injuries. Some of the most serious truck accident injuries that truck drivers suffer from include: penetrating trauma to the head resulting in a traumatic brain injury, which can be life-threatening, and neck and back injuries.
It’s still important to seek medical attention even if you don’t have any significant physical injuries. Some people get injuries that don’t exhibit immediate symptoms. You might not have some exterior injuries, but you might have internal bleeding that can cause more problems when left untreated.
- Document The Scene For Evidence And Check For Witnesses
One of the most important things you should do when you get involved in a truck accident is taking pictures. Remember, these photos will be crucial to your case, whether in court or for your insurance claim. Photos prove that there was damage to your vehicle, as well as evidence that the other driver was at fault if there are other parties involved.
You might also want to check the vicinity if there are witnesses who saw the accident. You should ask for their contact information and if they’re willing to make a statement about what happened.
- Identify The Other Parties Involved
Aside from photo evidence of the accident, documentation also involves getting information of the other parties involved in the accident, if there are any. Information like:
- Other driver’s name, home address, and phone number
- Other driver’s insurance company and if they have a policy number
- Other driver’s license number
- Name and contact information of the other driver’s employer
This information is critical because insurance companies require them so you can get an insurance claim. If you’re going to file a personal injury case, getting the other driver’s information is also essential so you can contact them when you have a settlement hearing.
If you weren’t able to get this information because you’ve been badly injured, you could contact the police later on as they’re required to file this information in their police report.
- Contact A Lawyer
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, you likely will want to retain a truck accident lawyer to represent you in your endeavor to get a fair settlement or judgment in court. A truck accident lawyer knows the laws and the regulations regarding trucking and personal injuries. They also possess the experience to represent your claim while ensuring you get the maximum compensation from the responsible party.
When you suffer a truck accident injury, you may be entitled to various forms of compensation. Depending on the nature of the injuries suffered, your compensation could be for both physical and emotional damages as well as any other monetary loss.
Summary
Truck accidents can happen at any time. A distracted driver may cause it, or even bad weather can cause pile-up accidents. It’s crucial for you to know the necessary steps to take if you get involved in a truck accident. Calling law enforcement is critical because they can document the scene accurately, especially if you can’t do it yourself due to your injuries. Aside from that, getting medical attention, even if you don’t have significant injuries, is critical to ensure you don’t have any internal damage.
If you can, you should document the scene with pictures and get all the necessary information if other parties are involved. If there are witnesses around, you should ask for their contact information as well. Lastly, call a truck accident lawyer to help you in case you need to file a personal injury case against the other parties involved.
