What you do after an accident can profoundly impact your overall case.
Being involved in any type of traffic accident involving a large truck or commercial vehicle can be a devastating moment. Commercial trucks can cause catastrophic damage, and you will need to know how to react if you have been involved in this type of accident. After you are involved in an accident with a commercial truck, you will likely be flustered and may not think clearly. Despite this, it is important to remember a few rules that will help you with a personal injury claim.
Your actions after a truck accident can greatly affect your chances of obtaining maximum compensation.
First, a doctor should examine you. Even if you feel fine following a crash, it is important that you seek medical treatment. Some injuries, such as whiplash, can go undetected. Furthermore, failure to see a doctor prevents you from properly documenting your injuries, which makes it difficult to prove they were caused by the accident.
Contact law enforcement as quick as you can. Once you reach out to them, police will arrive at the scene of the accident and complete an accident report that can help preserve the evidence.
If you are physically able, take photos at the accident scene. Take them from multiple angles and include shots of your vehicle, the truck, and your injuries. The police who respond to an accident should also take photos.
Gather as much information as possible. This includes the names, addresses, and identifying information about not only the truck driver (ex: their driver's license number, name, and insurance information), but any other people who were at the scene and can serve as eyewitnesses to the accident. After you leave the scene, it can become nearly impossible to track down everyone who was involved and it is crucial that you have the information you need to contact them. You should also gather the vehicle DOT license number for the truck and trailer.
Finally, even if your vehicle is damaged, it is important that you leave it as it is until it can be appraised. The repair estimate can become part of your claim and experts may be able to determine that a defect was involved.
One of the most important things you can do following a truck accident is to contact an experienced injury attorney. Involving a truck accident lawyer is strongly advised, even if you are not sure if the other person caused the accident. There are many different legalities involved with truck accidents, especially those involving commercial trucks, and you will need the help of an attorney. You can be sure that the trucking company will hire specialized attorneys to minimize their liability and you should also have an advocate fighting on your behalf. Truck accident attorneys will take the necessary steps to conduct an investigation, protect key evidence, and handle communications with the other parties involved in the accident.
To get started with your case, do not hesitate to contact Arnold & Itkin as soon as possible.