Any kind of accident, and especially truck accidents, can be truly traumatic. When you are a careful driver, you do not expect anything bad to happen. Unfortunately, these kinds of accidents are something that is a part of life. So, it is important to know what you can do and how you should act after it happens. Most people are in a state of shock and do not know what to do in these situations. Fortunately, there are a few important steps you can take when you are a part of a truck accident. If that is something you are looking for, read through the rest of this article.
Report the accident immediately
The most important thing to do right away is to remain at the scene of the crash and report the accident immediately. Moreover, when you are involved in a truck accident, it is crucial that you put yourself in a safe place and prevent more accidents from happening. This means that you should turn on your hazard lights, then put cones around your vehicle, and if possible, light road flares. All of this will help prevent another accident and therefore protect both you and other people on the road. If you have been hurt, make sure to ask someone passing by to do these things for you. And generally, if someone gets injured or dies, make sure to call 911 right away. If not, then call the police.
Reporting an accident is important because the accident report can be vital later on in your case. Make sure you ask for a copy of the report so that you can present it as evidence if needed.
Document the accident
Be sure to take photos of the accident with your camera or phone. These will allow you to provide more valid evidence about the accident. It will basically be easier to prove who was at fault. Moreover, you will have proof of any damage to your vehicles and the severity of your injuries. If you take those photos, later on, the other parties might argue that they are false. However, fighting photographic evidence from the scene of the accident will be hard for them, so you can be certain you will get proper compensation and justice.
Go to the doctor right away after truck accident
Even if you do not think you have any kind of serious injury, make sure to seek medical treatment right after the accident. It can often happen that you do not feel the pain or notice the injury due to the adrenaline rush that happens during an accident. So, if they do not transfer you to the hospital, or you do not receive any kind of medical treatment at the place of the accident, make sure you visit your doctor. This will not only help you later on with insurance compensation, but it can sometimes save your life. It sometimes happens that a person has some internal bleeding, but they do not feel any symptoms immediately.
Exchange information with all parties involved
Getting information about all parties involved in an accident will make it a lot easier for you to seek compensation. Do not leave the place of an accident without knowing at least some things about the other drivers. These can include their name, phone number, their insurance company, their driver’s license number, and so on. If they also work for a company, try to get their contact information as well. All of this is important for holding them responsible in case they have caused the accident. If you choose to let them leave right away, you might not see the insurance money you are entitled to get.
Hire a lawyer for the truck accident
Even if it is absolutely obvious that the other party or parties were at fault, hiring a personal injury lawyer is a good idea. If you choose to fight on your own, you will probably have a hard time getting justice for your lawsuit. Personal injury lawyers have a lot of experience in cases like yours and will know exactly what to do. They will know about all the documents you need, about all the procedures that need to take place. They will be able to negotiate with the insurance company so that they do not give you compensation smaller than you deserve. Moreover, they will do the vast majority of the job, allowing you to rest and heal in case you have been injured.
Being in a truck accident is not something anyone would wish for. Fortunately, if you take the steps mentioned above, you will be able to, at least, get proper compensation for the pain and the stress it has caused to you.