It can be devastating, traumatic, and difficult to deal with the aftermath of a truck accident. However, there are several things you should do right away to safeguard yourself in the event of an accident.
It’s critical to understand that the measures you take following a truck accident can substantially influence your compensation prospects, so you must move quickly to protect yourself.
Let’s look at the steps you should take after a truck accident to get maximum compensation in a truck accident, so you don’t lose out by failing to prove that you aren’t to blame for the accident.
Remain Calm
Keeping calm is the first step. Maintaining composure after a truck accident is tough, but the calmer you are, the safer your responses will be. The following steps can be more manageable if you keep your head clear and do not jeopardize your or anyone else’s safety. It’s acceptable if you need some time to gather your thoughts, but you should also examine your situation and the situation of people around you before calling for help.
Contact Emergency Services
After you have been involved in a collision caused by a large truck, you should call 911 for assistance. An ambulance will be dispatched to the accident site as soon as you call 911. As soon as the police arrive, tell them what you remember about the moments leading up to the accident.
It’s important to get a copy of the police report. You can use police reports during the investigation of your collision even though they’re generally inadmissible as evidence. There are several types of information that a police report will normally contain:
- Statements of witnesses
- Statements from all parties involved
- An illustration of the accident site
- Each driver’s contact information
- The point of view of a police officer on who was at fault
An experienced truck accident lawyer may examine the report and collaborate with specialists and investigators to identify the fault. The trucking firm’s insurance company would almost certainly try to use aggressive defense strategies to blame you for the accident rather than the truck driver.
If this happens, an expert attorney may use the police report to develop a case that proves the driver’s, another third party, and the trucking company’s involvement in getting you reasonable compensation for your damages.
If you’re ever involved in a trucking accident around Minnesota, you need to retain a competent truck accident lawyer in Minnesota. This will increase your chances of winning the claim.
Seek Medical Treatment
The importance of immediate medical attention after a truck accident can’t be overstated. As a result of the size and weight differences between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles, truck collisions usually result in serious injuries, including ones that aren’t immediately apparent.
It’s possible to suffer internal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or other injuries that might not immediately show symptoms but can be severe.
To prevent injuries from worsening, you must seek medical attention immediately. You can get a diagnosis of your injuries and a prediction of their potential consequences on your future if you go to the emergency room or your doctor’s office as soon as possible following your accident.
Your medical report should also show that your injuries are directly linked to your accident, not to a different incident.
Gather Evidence At The Scene Of The Accident
Collecting evidence from the accident scene is essential to prove what happened. Gathering evidence at the scene can preserve details and prevent falsification and alteration of the information. Ask someone else to do it if you can’t collect evidence at the location.
You may want to take photos at the accident scene of the damage to the vehicles, tire skid marks, license plates of the drivers, and other relevant details. Write down all you remember in the moments leading up to your crash as quickly as possible. Evidence gathering can have a significant influence on the result of your case.
Speak Slowly and Clearly When Making a Statement
The police officer at the accident scene will ask you to provide a statement; at some point, an insurance adjuster will also ask you to give an account. Be extremely careful about what you say in the heat of the moment since anything you say might come back to haunt you when seeking compensation for your injuries.
Don’t try to fill in the holes by guessing if you’re unsure about things or can’t recollect them precisely. Remember that you are not required to speak with an insurance adjuster on the spot, so don’t feel compelled to do so until you’ve talked with an experienced truck accident lawyer.
Final Thoughts
Any loss you sustain in a truck accident might be considerable, but it’s vital to remember that there are several injuries victims can sustain in these scenarios. Negotiating with insurers and trucking firms on your own is typically a terrible idea since these companies will do everything they can to take advantage of you and deny or underpay your claim.
Having a trusted personal injury lawyer on your side can make sense because the law can be tricky, and insurance adjusters can be even trickier. Getting well should be your priority. It’s your lawyer’s responsibility to compensate you fairly. An attorney specializing in trucking accidents can advise you of all available options. Your lawyer can also negotiate fair compensation on your behalf with insurance companies and trucking companies.
