An accidental crash with a commercial vehicle like an 18-wheeler truck or a semi-truck is always daunting.
Although it’s true that you can never notify yourself of these accidents prior to their occurrences but there’s at least one thing that you can easily do, and that is to prepare yourself for the worst.
You should have taken all the driving safety precautions in the best possible manner to keep the odds of an accident low, no matter what the circumstances. But let’s not get into that today. Today, we’ll take a peek at a few of the most important things to do after getting involved in a truck accident. So let’s begin without further ado.
1. Check on the others
This is the immediate thing for you to do after getting involved in the accident.
If you think your injuries aren’t too severe or the pain is bearable enough, check on the others including the passengers and the driver (in case you are inside the vehicle as a passenger).
If you think there’s no occurrence of a major injury, get them (including yourself) to safety without further ado. In case there’s a serious injury (like a major fracture or a spinal cord injury or a significant brain injury), try NOT to move the victim in any way whatsoever unless the situation calls for you to do so. Wait for professional medical help to arrive.
2. Contact the authorities and seek medical attention ASAP
As soon as you get your hands on a phone, contact the authorities without procrastinating further.
Once they arrive on the spot, make sure you get in touch with them and ask for immediate medical attention.
Make sure you report as well as document any areas of pain, however minor they might appear to be. This is particularly very important to protect yourself from no-fault insurance benefits. This will come in very handy for you, in case you require expensive medical treatments for these injuries at any later time.
3. Document the accident (if you are in a condition to do so)
If you have received no major injuries as a result of the accident, consider getting in touch with a few witnesses ASAP.
Obtain contact information of any witnesses involved in the accident so that you can get in touch with them at any later time for any discussion related to the accident. This will come in handy in situations where you feel that the trucking company may not be accepting 100% responsibility for the accident.
Your personal injury lawyer can also use the information to get the case in your favor (in case you do make up your mind to sue the trucking company for any irresponsible fault on their ends).
4. Notify your insurance company of the accident ASAP
If you want to receive your No-fault benefits without any delay in the process, consider notifying your insurance company almost immediately after the accident.
Do remember that there are certain time limits involved in the process. Hence, the earlier you go for it, the safer you will be to get your claims addressed within a reasonable amount of time. Better be safe than sorry.
5. Get in touch with a truck accident lawyer
Truck accident companies can very quickly destroy evidence (either intentionally or legally) to get the case in their favor.
Hence, it’s important to get in touch with an experienced lawyer who knows all these unethical practices in thorough details. S/He should be able to take enough measures to protect you from these practices and help you get your claims addressed within a reasonable amount of time.
6. DO NOT give any statement to an insurance adjuster
*This is particularly very important for you to remember right after the occurrence of the accident.
An insurance adjuster will very likely call you up (or even come for a visit) and ask you a few questions that are related primarily to the accident. It’s advisable to NOT give him/her any statement without consulting the same with your lawyer.
Even the pettiest statements can be used against you in court, and you may actually lose all the rights to sue the negligent trucking company or the driver for any accident-related injuries. So play a safe game. DO NOT give him any information. You have the legal rights to stay quiet on the matter.
So that’s it then. It’s time to bring this article to a close for now. Hope the information shared above comes in handy for you. Good luck!
