Trucks are one of the most dangerous vehicles on the road, causing significant or impacting collision. Everybody expects that an accident involving an 18-wheeler truck or a semi-trailer truck cause severe injuries due to the weight and size of the vehicle. Both the passengers and the driver can file claims against the truck driver and the trucking company.
In this post, you’ll learn the important things you need to do after an 18-wheeler truck accident, so you’ll be guided accordingly on the next steps if ever you get involved in such an incident.
Stay Away from the Dangerous Area and Call for Emergency
First and foremost, you should keep yourself and your passengers safe and secure by vacating the dangerous area. Contact emergency services as soon as possible to get medical help for all injured parties.
Once you have ascertained your safety and security, contact an 18 wheeler accident lawyer, so you’ll be guided on what must be done to ensure that your rights and best interests are protected after the accident.
Call the Authorities
Trucking always involves a human element, which requires great driving knowledge and skills. However, accidents happen, and the effects of truck accidents can be devastating. This is why you need to contact the authorities, so proper investigation will be carried out. This step is important to ensure that you get the maximum amount of compensation from a personal injury claim due to the 18-wheeler truck accident.
Remain Calm as Much as Possible
Any vehicular accident can cause shock and trauma to all injured parties. However, you have to to stay calm as much as possible. While it may be frightening to witness the accident’s devastating effects, you have to stay calm so as not to utter words or do actions that may incriminate you.
Traumatized drivers and passengers try to remember the details of the incident, unwittingly making statements to police officers without a lawyer. If you keep yourself calm, you’ll be able to think assertively and call an 18-wheeler accident lawyer to be at your side before you provide your statement to the authorities.
Document Evidence if Possible
In any incident, it’s crucial to document everything. If you have your smartphone with you, it’s a good idea to take pictures of the accident scene, including all angles, traffic signs, possible witnesses, and your surroundings.
Here are some helpful tips when documenting evidence in the place of the incident:
- Interview possible witnesses. Your personal injury lawyer can also do this job, most especially if you have sustained severe injuries or were hospitalized and cannot attend to gathering evidence to prove your claim eventually.
- Make sure to get medical attention even if your physical injuries are not serious. Even if you only have minor cuts, bruises, or wounds, you have to get medical intervention so that you can acquire a medical certificate or medical documentation you can use to prove your personal injury claim.
Contact the Insurance Company as Soon as Possible
Insurance companies are equipped with the best lawyers and claims specialists who will try to do their best to lower your compensation. By hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer, you’ll benefit from the expertise of someone who has dealt with the same case in the past. Never rely on yourself when it comes to truck accidents because the damages are usually severe or fatal.
To get just compensation for your damages, you have to notify the insurance company as soon as possible. A truck accident lawyer can do this task for you and even inform your creditors about your situation to safeguard your finances. Hiring a lawyer who knows how to deal with a truck accident case will help you pass through this journey with the best possible outcome.
Remember that filing a personal injury claim can be governed by statutes of limitations. That’s why you don’t want to procrastinate when filing a claim. A good personal injury lawyer has good communication and negotiation skills. You need a good lawyer to ensure that the insurance company won’t devalue or deny your claim.
Conclusion
In any accident, there’s always someone who is liable or at fault, and you don’t want the evidence to point to you as the driver who is at fault. This is why it is important to know the right steps to do after a truck accident, like getting prompt medical attention, collecting evidence, and filing an insurance claim as soon as possible. If you can hardly do it, a personal injury lawyer can help you perform all these tasks on your behalf.
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