Truck Accidents and What You Should Do Next

Being in an accident with a big truck can cause serious damage to you, your vehicle and anyone else involved. Trucks carry a lot more weight than the typical car, which often results in a lot more damage. If you were involved in a truck accident, regardless of which party you’re with, the following are some things you should do next.

Remain at the Scene

Under no circumstance should you flee the scene of your accident. Not only does this make you seem guilty, it is illegal in most states. Unless you are seriously injured and someone is rushing you to the hospital, you should stay where you are. If the car needs to be moved out of the way of oncoming traffic, and you can safely do that, go ahead and move the car. If you don’t need to move it out of the way, keep it there until the authorities have had a chance to assess the scene.

Call 911

Big rigs will inevitably cause serious injuries. Call 911 immediately after the accident and let the dispatcher know what happened so he or she can send the right help for you and anyone else involved. The dispatcher can be sure to send a police officer in addition to paramedics. The police officer will work on making a report of the accident.

Seek Medical Attention

If you are injured, it’s important you put your good health ahead of anything else and seek medical attention. If this means you are carted by ambulance to the nearest hospital, do it. If this means you get checked out by a paramedic at the scene, do it. If you don’t have any immediate injuries, it’s still a good idea to go to the hospital for an exam after you have made your statement and collected evidence. A doctor can check for injuries you may not realize are there, such as some types of internal injuries.

Gather Evidence

More than likely, you’ll need some evidence so you can file a claim for your truck accident. Take pictures of the accident and surrounding scene. Jot down contact information and statements from witnesses. Write down details about what happened, including the time of day, which direction everyone was traveling, etc. If you are unable to write due to injuries, utilize the audio feature on your phone and record the details.

Contact a Lawyer

When all is said and done, you’ll probably need the assistance of a lawyer. After you have received medical attention, contact a truck accident lawyer in Canoga Park, CA to get started with your claim.

 

Thanks to Barry P. Goldberg for their insight into personal injury claims and what comes next after a truck accident.