Truck Accident Aftercare: What to Do if You've Been Injured
Truck accidents are serious. They often result in severe injuries, and some people lose their lives in them. The size discrepancy between a passenger vehicle and a semi is enormous, so this type of accident is often catastrophic. Every person must know what to do if they are involved in a truck accident.
Check All Parties Involved to See if Medical Attention is Needed
The first step must always be to ensure everyone is okay. Call an ambulance if needed. It never hurts to call for one anyway, as injuries might not be apparent immediately following the accident. They may appear in minutes, hours, days, or weeks.
Call Law Enforcement
Call 911. The dispatcher can determine who to send. Provide the dispatcher with information about the accident so they know how many responders will be needed. Always make this call, as an accident report will be required to file an insurance claim and seek compensation for medical bills. Drivers might also want to consider contacting a truck accident attorney. They may wish to visit the scene and see for themselves what happened.
Document the Scene
Individuals who are not injured in the accident should document the scene. Gather contact information from all drivers involved and any witnesses. Take pictures of the vehicles and try to get a video of the cars and the area around the accident. An attorney may need this video to see if external factors contributed to the crash. Weather conditions, for instance, may have contributed to the collision.
Take Care With Words
Say as little as possible when talking with others involved in the accident or those who witnessed the collision. Saying the wrong thing could cause problems as the case progresses. Never admit fault. Stick to the facts and avoid lying. No requirement says a driver must talk to an insurance company. Allow a lawyer to handle these conversations.
Insurance adjusters often call accident victims in the hopes of getting the victims to say something they shouldn't. They then use information from this conversation to dispute the victim's claims. Doing so allows them to pay out less.
Go to the Hospital
As mentioned, injuries may not be apparent right away. Go to the hospital in an ambulance or have someone take you there after the accident. Another option is to see your regular doctor to be examined.
Have the Vehicle Examined by a Mechanic
As with people, cars may suffer damage that is not readily apparent. Have the vehicle examined by a licensed mechanic and request that they document any harm resulting from the collision. However, wait to have the car repaired to ensure the insurance company has what it needs to pay the claim.
Don't Discuss the Case
Avoid posting anything related to the accident on social media. Lawyers for the insurance company will check social networks and try to use anything posted to downplay the victim's injuries. Also, avoid commenting on other people's posts if they refer to the accident.
Work with a truck accident attorney following a collision of this type. They help clients navigate the legal process. As victims are likely injured, this assistance is priceless. They determine who is at fault and file the paperwork to receive compensation. If the case goes to trial, they represent the victim. The victim can then focus on recovering and getting their life back on track after this horrific incident.
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