What Is the Follow Up Tasks After a Truck Accident
Being involved in a truck accident for sure will leave you confused and scared. It is an awful experience even for the bravest truck driver. The victims involved who struggle to understand what to do next after the accident might also be severely injured, which means that the whole process of recovering can be difficult and it might take a while. To help navigate the legal process, you must hire a truck accident lawyer that can guide you through it.
In such circumstances, it can be so confusing to know what to do. Here’s what you should consider first after a truck accident.
What to do at the scene of the accident?
The accident can be a very chaotic and overwhelming situation, especially for victims of a truck crash. You need to call the police and wait for them to approve your leave. If you try to run away, things might become even more complicated, so make sure you remain at the scene of the accident until the police decide what is left to do. Truck crashes can involve victims with injuries, or even killed. So, it can be a criminal offense to not report the accident.
If you or someone else is injured, don’t move from the truck. Wait for the emergency to arrive there, otherwise, you might injure yourself even more. If someone else at the scene of the accident seems hurt or unconscious, do not move them. However, if something else is threatening to hurt them even more, like passing vehicles, try to move them, but with careful attention, to not cause even more injuries. Move your truck to a safe place, if that’s possible, and check to see if someone else can help you and call 911. After this, make sure the next thing you do is to call your lawyer.
Exchange information with other people involved in the accident
First things first do not reveal any information regarding your insurance policy or admit fault of the accident. You must collect the following information:
- The location of the accident
- The names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, witnesses, and occupants
- Photos and videos of the accident and all the vehicles involved
- Details of the insurance companies that cover other drivers
- The documentation evidence about the truck accident – this will help your lawyer handle your case better
Taking pictures and videos of the scene of the accident is a very important aspect. Use your mobile phone to gather as much evidence as possible. You should also photograph the location of the accident and the vehicles involved in the crash. This will help your insurance agent determine how much compensation you should be awarded.
Identify the witnesses
You will also need to identify anyone who might be considered a witness of your crash and make sure to collect information such as:
- Their names
- Phone numbers
- Home addresses
- Email addresses
Witnesses who saw the accident are crucial for supporting your version of the event if your case goes to court. The witnesses could involve other passengers that were in the truck with you, drivers, and pedestrians.
Get a truck insurance
The insurance company will help you cover the claims and financial costs from the accident. Bobtail truck insurance is a business insurance coverage that offers policy coverage for driving commercial trucks. If you’re driving a truck loaded with equipment, and other heavy objects, bobtail insurance will help cover your business from financial costs. It also applies to food trucks, farm tractors, commercial tractors, and dump trucks. If you’re not satisfied with your insurance company’s assessment of your damages, then you might consider choosing complete coverage from bobtail truck insurance.
Be cautious regarding discussing the accident
Do not speak with anyone about the truck accident, except for your lawyer and the police. Not even with the insurance company, until your lawyer will advise you what to do further. Be polite with everyone, especially with the other driver, even though you might feel like they’re getting down your nerves. It is normal to feel frustrated, angry and overwhelmed after a truck accident. No one is ever prepared for such situations, and it’s best to not make things even harder to deal with. Instead, be sure to keep your calm and be as quiet as possible. Everything you say might negatively be used against you later if your case goes to court. People surrounding you might not want to help you, on the contrary, they might video record you saying words that won’t serve you later on.
Experiencing a truck accident can be a deadly situation. Trucks weigh over 20 or 30 times more than a usual car, so you can imagine the impact of a crash. Given these thoughts, it’s no wonder why truck accidents are so difficult to deal with. It’s very important to know what steps to take after being involved in a truck accident. Contacting an injury lawyer might be your first option, but also, calling the insurance agent is as important.
So, once again: what to do after the truck accident?
- Call for help
- Document the scene of the accident
- Speak to potential witnesses and gather evidence
- Do not leave the scene of the accident
- Recover from the damages created
A good insurance company will always be available to help you and determine who’s a fault it is. Each step taken can directly affect or claim, so be sure to be aware of what you’re doing or saying. Getting a consultation with a lawyer it’s important, as you’ll learn more about your abilities to protect your rights in the future.
Just one call and you’re already completing the first step of recovering from the truck accident. If you’ve been injured in a truck collision, wait no more and contact the insurance company and a lawyer. Leave the difficult job on the expert’s hands: you will successfully get the compensation you deserve.