What to Do After a Truck Accident: 5 Things You Need to Know

closeup of a side rearview mirror with a truck approaching, and the driver thinking of What to Do After a Truck Accident

Protect Your Rights After a Truck Accident

Even the most cautious driver can end up involved in a truck accident. In fact, it was reported that in a span of one year, the number of trucks involved in accidents that caused injury increased by 6% (from 112,000 to 119,000).

If you ever find yourself in this situation, you’ll need to know what to do to protect yourself, the people you love, and your property. Below, we have outlined 5 critical things you should always do after you get in a collision with a commercial vehicle. Keep reading so you’re prepared in case the unimaginable happens.

1. Stay Safe at the Scene

After a truck accident, call for help and wait for medics and the police to show up. Then, give your statement to the officer on-site. Doing so will help you in the future. If you leave, it will make it difficult to get compensation for any damages or injuries.

You need to move yourself a safe distance from the wreck if possible. If the crash is caused by the truck’s mechanism failing, whether it be the wiring or brakes, there’s an increased chance the truck will catch on fire. Staying as far back as possible until the police and fire department arrive is the safest and best option.

2. Collect Evidence 

If you’re able to take photos of the scene you should. You will need to document any and all injuries. Also, keep in mind some may not be visible so you won’t be able to record them there.

Take photos and videos of the road, your vehicle, and the truck that hit you. Your personal injury attorney will need this evidence so they can get you the most compensation.

Also, get information from the driver as well. You’ll want to get their name and license plate. Obtain the contact information of a person at the company that your truck accident attorney can contact.

3. Never Admit Fault 

Whether you caused the accident or not you should never admit fault to the police or to the other person’s insurance agents/company. While it may have been your fault, it’s possible someone else was responsible too.

An accident attorney will have knowledge and resources that you don’t and will be able to find out if someone else needs to pay the compensation. It may not always be the driver.

If the truck had faulty parts then the company or manufacturer may be required to pay. It’s possible the truck was loaded incorrectly. The products shifting around may be the reason the accident happened.

If the truck driver was responsible the company he or she works for may still be required to provide compensation. The truck driver should have passed a background check and/or been trained on how to properly maneuver the large vehicle.

It may seem obvious to some people but it’s important that you don’t post on social media about the truck accident. If you have to take your case to court your social media could be used as a statement.

4. Seek Medical Attention 

Dealing with a truck accident can trigger a lot of emotions, shock may cause you not to know to notice or feel some of your injuries. However, you could have serious injuries and you need to be checked out as soon as possible.

Get evaluated at the accident site if possible. Some injuries may show up hours or days later and the truck driver’s lawyer may use this against you in court. They may try to claim that you sustain those injuries after the accident. Your attorney can dispute this if you see a doctor right away.

5. Call an Attorney 

You need to know your legal rights after a truck accident. It may seem simple but a truck accident is much different than a car accident and it requires an expert. The trucking company and the insurance companies aren’t going to want to pay and will do whatever they can to risk the amount they owe to you.

If you’re injured in a truck accident you need to be focused on healing, and hiring a lawyer will allow you to rest and restore your health. You won’t have to worry about getting taken advantage of because a professional will have your back.

Going up against a large trucking company is not an easy task that you want to do on your own. You deserve to be compensated appropriately.

You’ll have medical bills that add up quickly and you shouldn’t be responsible for covering those dues. You may have to take a leave of absence from work deepening on how extensive your injuries are which can be a burden. You’ll also have damage to your car.

You don’t need to worry about how you’re going to afford a new car or repairs. An expert truck accident attorney will ensure you receive compensation for your time off work, medical bills, and for your property damage

Contact a Truck Accident 

Knowing what to do after a truck accident will help save you a lot of frustration and worry. You need to prepare for a legal battle after a truck accident but you don’t have to do it alone. If you’ve been in a truck accident, contact us today. Park Accident Attorneys has a 99% success rate, and we will help you build a winning case.

Scroll to top