What to Do After a Truck Accident
Knowing what to do after a truck accident can help protect your safety, health, and your ability to recover compensation. Review this checklist of steps to take following an accident with a large truck.
1. Call 911
The first thing you should do following a truck accident is call 911 to report what happened. The dispatcher will summon emergency responders and the police and send them to help. The responding officers will investigate the crash and create accident reports to document the incident. You’ll want to get a copy of the report and save it to bring with you to your lawyer’s office.
2. Document the Scene
If you can, and it’s safe to do so, you should take photographs of the scene of your collision, the damage to your vehicle and the truck, the road conditions, the weather conditions, and other relevant details. Take more photos than you might think are necessary. Photographs help explain what happened and can be important evidence in your truck collision claim. If you are too injured to take photos, ask a friend to take them for you.
You should also get information from the truck driver, including the following:
- Name, phone number, address, and email
- Insurance company and policy number
- The driver’s CDL license number
- Name of the trucking company for which the driver was working
- The license plate number of the truck and other identifying information
3. Talk to Witnesses
If anyone else saw your crash, ask for their names and contact information. Third-party witnesses to trucking accidents can provide invaluable information about what happened and which party was potentially liable. Since they are generally considered to be unbiased parties, witnesses can provide important evidence to support your claim.
4. Promptly Seek Medical Care
You should seek medical care immediately after a truck crash. Some types of injuries might have delayed symptoms, and you might not realize you are injured right after your crash. Getting prompt treatment for your injuries can facilitate your recovery and help protect your rights to seek compensation for your losses.
5. Contact Your Insurance Company
Massachusetts is a no-fault auto accident state, so you will first file a claim under your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. This will pay for your medical bills up to your policy limits. If you were seriously injured, your PIP insurance might not be enough to cover your medical expenses and property damage. In that case, you can pursue a claim against the negligent truck driver and their trucking company to recover full compensation for your losses.
6. Be Careful What You Say
Take care when talking to the truck driver and the police following your accident. Even if you feel angry, remain calm. Keeping a cool head can help you avoid saying something that could harm your claim. Avoid the urge to apologize or admit blame. Don’t say that you weren’t injured because you might have injuries you are not immediately aware of. If you are contacted by an insurance company, let them know that you will be retaining a lawyer and that your attorney will contact them.
7. Avoid Social Media
It’s best to stay off of social media when you have a truck accident case pending. Insurance companies check social media pages to try to find anything they can use to claim the injuries of the victims are not as severe as they claim. Don’t post about your collision or your injuries. An insurance company might even use photos you post against you to try to claim you are malingering.
8. Contact Ellis & Associates
Once you have received medical treatment, you should contact Ellis & Associates as soon as possible. We can review your case and the evidence you have gathered to provide you with an honest assessment of your legal rights and the remedies you might seek. Call us today for a free consultation at 800-MR-ELLIS or contact us online.