Being involved in a truck accident is an overwhelming event that often leaves victims emotionally and mentally uncertain about how to proceed. Unfortunately, Missouri saw 819 deadly truck crashes in 2019, and countless others in which drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians were seriously injured. If you or a loved one was involved in a truck accident, you are likely struggling through serious injuries or the loss of a loved one, while the medical bills are piling up. There are some critical steps that you should take following a truck accident in order to ensure your health, safety, and right to pursue compensation are all protected.
Contact Law Enforcement
The best step that you can take after an accident is to contact law enforcement. This is especially true if you have been involved in a crash involving a truck or other large commercial vehicle. Avoid making conversation with anyone before law enforcement arrives. After law enforcement arrives, you should provide them with all of the details that you can remember about the accident. Among other helpful things, law enforcement will create a police report, which should contain the contact information of any witnesses to the crash, and which can prove useful when you pursue the compensation that you deserve through a personal injury claim.
Photograph the Accident Scene
If you can manage to do so safely, you should take as many pictures as possible of the accident scene. While this means taking photographs of the damage to any vehicles involved, it also means taking photographs of often neglected aspects of an accident including skid marks, the surroundings of the location where the crash occurred, road signs, and the weather. Photographs often prove particularly powerful evidence in arguing a personal injury claim.
Exchange Details With the Other Driver
After law enforcement has arrived and created a police report, you should exchange information with the other driver. This means that you should record details like full names, phone numbers, license plate numbers, insurance carriers, and other important information. If you have been involved in a trucking crash, remember that the trucking company can be held liable. If this is the situation, you will be able to pursue claims for compensation against the trucking company.
Obtain Medical Care
Receive medical care as soon as possible following a crash. After an accident, victims often feel confused and uncertain about how to proceed. Injuries can lie dormant for hours and even days following accidents, which is why it is a good idea to promptly receive an examination at a hospital, even if you think you feel fine. For example, traumatic brain injuries are notoriously difficult to diagnose and frequently are not diagnosed in an emergency room. Most imaging, including MRI and CT, does not reveal a TBI. But medical records documenting an injured victim’s symptoms from the time directly following a crash can provide strong evidence in support of an accident victim’s argument for compensation.
Speak With an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer Today
One of the best things you can do to take control of the situation as a truck accident victim is to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. A knowledgeable injury attorney has the skills necessary to navigate your case and can also provide helpful information about you should proceed as an accident victim. Contact House Law LLC today to schedule a free case evaluation.
Tags: personal injury, truck crash claims, trucking accident
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