Personal Injury Lawyer
Accidents on the road can be stressful. Truck accidents can be quite serious. If you’re in a truck accident, the steps you take are similar to when you’re in any vehicular accident. Knowing what to do will help you stay calmer and take steps to make sure everyone is safe.
Stay at the Scene
Move your car if possible and needed to be safe. But don’t leave the scene, because it could make you liable for a hit and run. Ideally, you should leave your car in position to preserve evidence, but it depends on the conditions around the accident.
Call 911
A collision with a large truck can cause more serious injuries than you might expect. There could be hazardous materials leaking from your car or the truck. Calling the authorities gets help quickly and dispatches police who can make an accident report.
Gather Pictures and Information
If it’s safe for you take pictures of the accident aftermath, you should do that. Take pictures of the surroundings to capture weather, road conditions, traffic and construction. Get pictures of the vehicles and skid marks. Take down witness information to contact them later. If it’s dark, record an audio of everything you remember. Record facts, not opinions.
Don’t Make Statements About Fault
You should be cautious about admitting fault to anyone after an accident. Even saying, “I’m sorry” could make another driver believe you thought it was your fault. When you tell the police what happened, just give facts. Don’t talk to the insurance company until you’ve taken some time.
Get Medical Treatment
If you are injured at the scene, get medical treatment first. When you’re in an accident, some injuries aren’t immediately obvious. Watch for symptoms of a head or neck injury, such as dizziness, confusion or feeling nauseous. You may want to have the ER check you out before you go on with your routine to ensure that you aren’t seriously injured.
Talk to a Truck Accident Lawyer
Technically, you don’t need a lawyer to settle with an insurance company. If you’re dealing with truck accident, there are more factors that determine liability than human error. The insurance company has a lawyer as their advocate to represent their interests. There’s no reason you shouldn’t get your claim evaluated by a truck accident lawyer who can help you present your case more effectively to the insurance company and if needed, a jury.