Truck accidents are a common spectacle on the highways. Almost 500,000 truck accidents occur every year in the USA. These accidents cause significant damage to property and life. Traffic collision cases are very complex and may take a long time to dispense justice.
Severe and catastrophic injuries can arise from a vehicle accident. A person involved in a crash with a semi-truck is frequently seriously hurt, and the only thing they need to worry about is obtaining the medical attention they need.
However, if you’re in a truck accident and are lucky enough to escape with minor injuries, you should take some critical steps after that to help you deal with the repercussions.
Generally, the victims of truck accidents seek compensation for the damages incurred due to the accident. However, there is a proper pattern for dealing with a truck and other traffic accidents. You have to follow the legal pattern to get the desirable compensation without any hassle.
Alabama semi-truck accident lawyer can help you get the desired compensation for the damages incurred due to the truck accident. A well-reputed law firm can handle your case diligently to provide you with the best compensation for the damages. However, you must follow the below discussed steps to increase your winning probability of the case.
Report The Incident
Anyone involved in a traffic accident must stay at the accident scene. Make sure you’re safe and, if feasible, get your automobile off the road. Turn on your hazard lights, place cones around your vehicle, and, if possible, ignite road flares to ensure other cars can see you. Another accident will be avoided as a result of this.
Suppose somebody has been harmed or has died due to the accident; dial 911 right away. Call the cops or the state highway patrol if everything else fails. When an officer comes, they will examine the situation, fill up an accident report, and give you instructions on what to do next. To maintain your records and offer as evidence, ask for an original copy of the accident report if you have to go to court over the accident.
Obtain a police record even if the collision appears to be “small.” The easiest option to have quick documentation of the accident is to file a police report, and the police will keep accurate records of all of the vehicles involved.
Get Immediate Medical Attention
Whether you are hurt or not, it is critical to seek medical assistance following an accident. Your adrenaline may keep you from feeling pain or discovering an injury. If you are not treated at the accident scene or are not taken to the hospital right away, make an appointment with your medical examiner as soon as possible. Allow a medical practitioner to examine you and determine whether you require treatment.
If you do not seek medical treatment or follow treatment recommendations, it may be difficult to obtain compensation for your injuries afterward. Get a medical check-up for yourself and your passengers, even if you don’t think you’ve been wounded.
You could have injuries that don’t exhibit symptoms right away. If you later require medical attention for an injury, it may be challenging to prove that it was caused by an accident. You could also have an injury such as internal bleeding, which you may not be aware of but which a doctor will be able to detect.
Request a comprehensive medical check-up at a hospital or your doctor’s office, even if you’ve been evaluated by an emergency medical technician on the scene.
Identify Other People Involved in Accident
Examine the truck and other vehicles involved in the crash for any identifying marks or signs. This information is crucial in ensuring that all possibly liable parties are held accountable for their role in the accident’s cause. While the truck driver may be at blame, the firm they are driving may also be responsible for your injuries and car damage.
While at the crash site, it is critical to communicate information with the other side. It can be difficult to track down the other party after leaving the accident scene. Even if you know their name or the corporation that owns the truck, getting in touch with them can be tough. If you decide to pursue compensation, having their contact info will make things easier.
Document The Whole Scene
Again, you should only go for this if you are uninjured and it is safe to get out of your vehicle and have a walk around. You don’t want to be walking around on a major highway if the cops aren’t yet on the scene to manage traffic.
Photos, contact information for eyewitnesses and everyone involved in the crash, and any notes about road or weather patterns or other factors that may have influenced the accident can all be included in the documentation.
If the weather plays a factor in drivers’ vision or sloppy road, it’s extremely vital to snap images. Although forensic experts can testify to previous weather conditions, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Collecting data from other parties participating in the project is also part of the documentation process. Make a point of getting as much of the following as you can:
- Other driver’s name, address, phone number, and e-mail address
- Insurance details
- The license number of their vehicle
- Name of the company owning the truck
- Information related to the vehicle
Record Information of Eyewitnesses
Anyone who witnessed or observed the crash qualifies as a “witness.” It might be someone in one of the vehicles involved, a witness, or someone in a neighboring vehicle that wasn’t engaged.
It is not a sheer requirement for you to take witness statements. It is the job of police officers to do so. However, if there are any injuries and property damage, several emergencies may demand the police’s response before they question witnesses.
When it appears that the emergency response team has everything under control, well-intentioned bystanders who stopped to aid will most likely leave. It’s quite difficult to track them down once they leave the scene, and they may have crucial information to contribute.
Always keep an eye out for witnesses at or around the accident scene. These people could be summoned to testify in your case. You can obtain a witness statement on your own or ask for their contact information if additional information regarding the accident is required. You might also check the accident report to see if the responding officer interviewed any witnesses you may have overlooked.
Approach an eyewitness and ask for their contact details if you can. All you need is a name, phone number, or e-mail address to stay in touch. If you have a lawyer, you can give that information to them or the police if they’re conducting an accident investigation.
Avoid Posting Details On Social Media
A truck collision is usually more significant than a vehicle accident, and it could be noteworthy if there were a large clean-up, road closures, or a fatality. You may come across photos or articles from your local news outlets but resist the temptation to comment.
Similarly, don’t publish anything on your social media accounts about your physical or emotional state or how you assume the event occurred. You may want to share with your immediate family and friends what happened and how you’re feeling, but doing so on social media can lead to legal problems later.
Even a harmless post like “This wreck happened today – I’m a little bruised up, but don’t worry, I’ll be fine!” might be dangerous. Potentially jeopardize your legal case. If you wish to share details or discuss the occurrence, contact your closest friends and family (offline).
Remember that whatever you post on the internet might be used against you in court or depositions. Even if you erase it, screen photos may exist, and you may be called to testify about what you saw online. If you’re involved (or maybe involved) in a legal case, it’s usually better to be quiet on social media.
Measure Your Words
An insurance adjuster will contact you after the accident. You must be extremely cautious about what you say to the adjuster, as they can use whatever you say against you. Before speaking with an insurance company representative, it is essential to consult with an attorney.
Your lawyer can advise you on what to say and what not to say. If the adjuster requests a recorded or written statement, say no until you’ve consulted with your lawyer. You must cooperate with the insurance company but are not obligated to provide a statement.
Get Your Vehicle Checked
Your car may appear to have minimal damage, but internal damage, like internal damage in the human body, is sometimes not sure to the untrained eye. However, you must not take your car to your local body shop and have it fixed right away.
Because the exact estimate for repairs is required as part of your insurance claim, each insurance company has its specific set of rules and regulations for what must be presented for them to compensate you for your losses. Some programs ask you to picture each outside side of the car, while others demand that you take it to a body repair shop on a pre-approved list.
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