To say that truck accidents can be dangerous, would probably be an understatement. In fact, sometimes, they can be so detrimental, that they can completely change your life in the most negative way.
This means that they can take a serious toll on a person’s overall well-being, and in some instances, they can result in death. Even if you feel relatively fine physically, your mind is in a total mess because it isn’t able to process everything that happened.
However, no matter how confused or frightened you are, there are still some steps that you need to take not only to ensure your safety but to also preserve your legal rights. Want to uncover the most crucial ones? Keep scrolling!
Are You Safe?
As stated in the beginning, this type of road accident can be very hazardous, hence it’s of huge importance to first make sure that you (along with everybody else who was in the vehicle) are safe.
If possible, you should move your truck to the side of the road, to avoid further disrupting the traffic, and, simultaneously, prevent any other potential accident. Turn on the hazard lights, and if you’re able to, exit your vehicle slowly.
If you are injured (or any of the passengers) then it’s better not to go anywhere, but simply wait for the medical assistance to come. The point is to stay in place and ensure you are far away from the traffic.
A Lawyer Should Be Contacted
This whole situation is undoubtedly very overwhelming and you most likely aren’t sure what to do next. Although there are several steps that need to be taken in these types of situations, one of the most beneficial ones is to contact a truck lawyer.
Why does it matter so much? According to a truck accident lawyer in National City, these experts are the only ones who are capable of navigating these types of cases. They will do whatever is necessary to properly protect your rights, and, concurrently, help you get the compensation you deserve.
Keep in mind that truck accidents are way more intricate than car accidents due to various factors that are involved.
Gather As Much Information As Possible
In these instances, further investigation is necessary, hence if you want to help with it, then it would be recommended to collect all the relevant information. It’s important to be very diligent about this even if, at first glance, everything seems less serious than it actually is.
There are a couple of pieces of information that are integral parts of this process, which is why they shouldn’t be overlooked at any cost. They include the following:
- Name, contact information, and addresses of everyone involved, along with the witnesses
- Detailed description of the vehicles (model and license/VIN numbers, make)
- Every detail concerning the accident, such as time, location, what caused it, etc.
- Information regarding property damage and injuries
- Information about responding police department, ambulance, and tow truck service
- Lighting road, and weather conditions
The Police Should Be Called As Well!
Since you are at a place that you aren’t exactly familiar with, if possible, make sure to ask someone to give you the number of the helpline of the police station nearby. If there’s no one around, then you can simply call 911 and they will connect you to the most suitable police department.
The dispatcher should be provided with all the essential information, like the number of injured people and vehicles involved, so they can properly help you out. Regardless of the severity of the injuries, calling the police should be considered mandatory.
Proper Medical Help Is A Must!
It doesn’t matter where this accident occurred, what matters is to seek medical help as soon as you can. Trucks are no joke and they can seriously injure a person, which is why you shouldn’t take this entire situation lightly, but make sure to call an emergency.
This doesn’t refer solely to people who have severe injuries, but to the ones who have minor ones too. Bear in mind that even if they appear to be benign, some of them take time to become more visible.
In some instances, a person can have serious injuries without even realizing it, hence it’s pivotal to contact medical support as soon as you can. If you’re able to, do not leave the vehicle until the ambulance arrives.
Take Pictures And Videos Of The Scene
If you feel relatively okay, then it would be advisable to take pictures or record videos of the scene. This should include pictures of all the damages, traffic signals, roadway, traffic signs, and anything else that could contribute to your case and showcase how it all happened.
Your videos and pictures should demonstrate what led to this truck accident, such as overgrown hedges, faulty traffic lights, etc. When you’re taking pictures/videos, don’t forget to include the following:
- Approach and surroundings
- The position of your truck before it’s moved (this refers to any other vehicle that’s involved as well)
- Both midrange and close-up shots from every single angle
- Skid marks and debris
- Signals and signage
- License plates – they can help you uncover the owners
An Insurance Company Must Be Notified Too!
Any type of road collision must be immediately (or at least, as soon as you can) reported to the insurance company. This rule applies to the truck accident as well. Why is this so essential? Namely, they need to be notified about everything that occurred so they can provide you with coverage.
If you fail to take this step, you will only make things worse, concerning your compensation, and your overall case. That’s precisely why it’s so crucial to contact them whenever you can. Keep in mind that by doing so, you will help your attorney properly build your case, and, at the same time, fight for your rights.
Unfortunately, frequently, the trucking industry has the tendency to avoid any type of liability, even when their own driver is a culprit. However, when you have a skilled lawyer on your team, along with an insurance company, the chances of receiving solid compensation are drastically increased.
Avoid Talking To The Trucking Company
The trucking company will probably try to reach you, especially because it knows that you are currently very scared and distressed, so it will try to take advantage of this situation. No matter how tempted you are, do not try to make any contact with these people.
Instead, it would be much better if you simply focused on your well-being and took some time to think things through to avoid saying things you do not actually mean. In a nutshell, if, at some point, you decide to talk to them, do not take any major steps before consulting your advocate, because they’ve already dealt with similar situations and will advise you on what to say.
For The Time Being, Social Media Platforms Are Not Your Friends
A vast majority of people have the urge to constantly share personal things on a variety of different social media platforms, which is, at times, okay, however, that’s not a good thing in these instances.
Right now, you must perceive them as a double-edged sword that can seriously jeopardize your entire case in one hand, and simultaneously, help you out. For example, if you are yearning to talk to other people who have gone through the same thing, then it’s okay to try to contact them and have some sort of emotional support.
On the other hand, if you want to share publicly anything that’s related to the accident, then that’s surely not the wisest idea. Therefore, if you want to resort to social media platforms, you need to be careful about certain things:
- Make sure not to share any pictures or videos that are in relation to the truck accident
- Do not post any details regarding the specifics, such as the speed at which you were driving, who/what potentially caused the crash, weather conditions at the time of the accident, and other important information.
- Refrain from blaming anyone publicly (even if you think that you are responsible for it).
You Must Be One Hundred Percent Honest
Being honest and transparent in these types of situations is of huge importance regardless of the circumstances. A lot of people get scared and tend to either lie about certain things or hide relevant information.
Don’t forget that if you fail to be truthful, you are going to seriously injure your claim. Bear in mind that a vast majority of these cases do not require any court involvement, which means there’s a chance that your advocate will settle everything with the other driver’s solicitor and insurance company.
Speaking of the insurance company, you should never lie to them (concerning the severity of your injuries) because they will eventually find out the truth.
Truck accidents can honestly be extremely traumatizing, particularly when you’re so far away from home, however, if you want to go through this process as smoothly as possible, then you must implement every tip that was mentioned today.
