6 Steps To Take After a Truck Accident
Right after a car accident, you’ll likely feel rattled and even traumatized. However, when you are in a collision with a truck, you may have bigger issues to handle. It is essential to know your rights and the steps to take to ensure you get a fair settlement.
Since trucking accidents involve extremely large vehicles and are driven by employees who work for other companies, the rules for dealing with accidents are different from regular cases. Here are six essential steps you should take after a truck accident.
1. Seek Medical Attention
You must visit a doctor as soon as you can after a truck accident, even if you don’t feel any pain. Some injuries may not show up until days or weeks after the accident. This means you could be dealing with damage to your muscles, tissues, and internal organs without knowing it. The doctor will also assess your overall health to determine how the accident has affected you.
Be sure to obtain a copy of your doctor’s report and submit it to your lawyer. Keep a record of your medical costs, including inpatient and outpatient care, emergency room visits, records from emergency responders, and aftercare documentation, such as a visit to the chiropractor or ongoing physical therapy.
2. Don’t Speak to The Other Party’s Insurer
Don’t speak with the insurer of the other party. Anything you say could be used to lower your settlement amount in court. Claims adjusters may also try to twist your words to make it appear as though the injuries you sustained came from a preexisting health condition and not the truck accident.
It’s best not to give a statement and not sign any documents from the insurance company since this could hurt your case. When you must deal with insurance companies, contact your lawyer and let them handle any official communication. Discuss with a Sink Law truck accident lawyer in Greenville or other legal experts for further guidance.
3. Get a Copy of the Police Report
After the accident, the police will arrive on the scene. After you give your statement to the police along with your contact information, make sure you go to the police station to get a copy of the report. Keep this document for your records and submit it to your attorney as evidence to support your case.
4. Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company
Even though you shouldn’t sign anything given to you by an insurance company without consulting your lawyer, you will still have to report the collision to your insurance provider. It’s best to give your insurer the information listed on your police report without providing any extra details. You may also want to let your insurance company know that you are hiring an attorney and will have your lawyer contact them on your behalf.
5. Don’t Go On Social Media
While your accident is being investigated, you shouldn’t discuss it on social media. Don’t post any information about your wreck, including photos of your car. You should also avoid posting pictures of yourself after the wreck.
The defendant’s insurance company may use this information to try and prove that you are not as injured as you claim to be. Discuss your case with your attorney before going on social media.
6. Take Pictures of the Accident Scene
Take as many pictures as you can at the accident scene, including your injuries and damage to your vehicle. Photos will help to support your claim. If you’re able to do so, return to the scene and recount the events of the collision with your lawyer present. Write down what you remember about the accident, as well, and submit this information to your attorney.
One Step at a Time
After a truck accident, there will be several important issues to discuss with your lawyer. An experienced attorney will assess every detail of your case to determine liability and give you accurate information about the type of settlement you can expect to receive. Dealing with an accident can be stressful, and having a qualified legal team on your side can make the settlement process more expedient.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
With a law degree under his belt, Mark Scott understood very early that law communication was a relatively neglected area. He decided to help people by “translating” the language and offering information and advice in a clear, useful, and actionable manner. For this reason, instead of finding him in court, you will most likely find his name online, where he is very active and thriving as a legal columnist. His part of making the world a better place is to make the law a less convoluted maze. He aims to make it easier for people to understand when and how to seek legal counsel, how to proceed in a significant number of legal matters, and to find the proper resources so they can stand up for their rights.
