What To Do If You Are In A Truck Accident

What to Do After A Truck Accident – How to Protect Yourself

Most people wonder what they need to do if they are in a truck accident. This will help you be proactive and learn how to protect yourself in the event of a truck accident. It also provides helpful tips for what to do if you have already been in an accident.

The following is an in-depth discussion of what to do after an accident. Below that is a bullet-point checklist to help you build a strong case against the at-fault driver.

Remain in Your Seat Until It Is Safe

Many times truck accidents trigger additional car accidents. You will want to remain in place, with your seatbelt fastened, in case there is another crash. Make sure your passengers remain where they are. We’ve represented accident victims where they prematurely raced to get out of their vehicle and were hit by another vehicle.

Check on Everyone in Your Car

Once you are sure it is safe, thoroughly check yourself and your passengers for injuries. If anyone is in pain and something doesn’t feel right, especially in the head, neck, or back, do not risk it. Call an ambulance and seek immediate medical attention. Remain in place and wait for police or paramedics to arrive. They are trained on how to move injured people without causing additional injury.

Quickly Check Your Surroundings to Make Sure You are Safe

Once it is clear you are not going to be hit again, check your surroundings. Do you see smoke or fire? If so, you probably need to evacuate yourself and your passengers, regardless of injuries. The key is to keep everyone safe.

Check on Pedestrians and Other Vehicle Occupants

After checking on traffic and confirming it is safe to exit your car, you should check on pedestrians who were involved in the crash as well as occupants of the other vehicles.

Move Your Car to a Safe Place

If you are involved in a minor crash on the highway, without severe injuries, you should probably move your car to the right shoulder to get out of the flow of traffic. If there are severe injuries, leave your car where it is to avoid aggravating any injuries and to allow police to perform a proper accident investigation.

If you are involved in a minor crash on residential or city streets, you may want to move your car if it is blocking traffic. Otherwise, again, you might want to leave the car where it is for the accident investigation.

No matter what, never leave the scene of the accident without exchanging insurance information with the other drivers. However, if you feel threatened or unsafe, call 911 immediately and get yourself to a safe location.  Explain to the 911 operator why your safety was at risk, forcing you to leave.

Call 911

To avoid questions about who was at fault, even if it seems obvious, call 911 and ask them to send a police officer. Police officers typically file a crash report, or accident report, that documents what happened. Police can also issue a citation to the driver who is at fault. The crash report goes a long way to prove to the insurance companies and courts what happened.

Do not rely on the other driver saying it was their fault and telling you the police are not necessary. They are not your friend. They are not going to look out for your interests, especially if they are looking at a huge rate increase in their insurance premium or personal liability for your damages.

Take Photos of Everything

Take several pictures of every car involved in the crash, showing all the damage. Photos of vehicle damage visualize the extent of the collision and your injuries. They can also refute allegations by the other driver that the accident was your fault or that this was a minor crash.

If the other drivers provide you with documents, proof of insurance, or other information, take photographs of those as well. You do not want to lose this information.

You should also photograph your injuries.

Exchange Insurance Information

The law requires drivers to have auto insurance and share this information with others involved in a crash. You will want to obtain the truck driver’s insurance provider and policy numbers, and the make, model, color, and license plate of any other vehicles involved. If possible, get a copy of the other drivers’ license information. Most of this will be in the officer’s crash report or covered by the photographs you take.

Go To The Doctor

Even if you do not think you are injured, you should visit an urgent-care, hospital emergency room, or your doctor. If you require additional care, follow your doctor’s advice and do not delay treatment.

For reasons that your truck accident lawyer can explain later, it is preferable that you see in-network providers through your health insurance. If you do not have health insurance or are limited by the potential providers in your area, there are doctors who specialize in injury care and do not require an upfront payment. Again, you should speak with your lawyer about this.

Contact your Automobile Insurance Carrier

Promptly notify your automobile insurance company of the crash. Failing to do so could potentially leave you personally responsible for injuries and damages caused by the crash. Also, depending on the type of coverage you have, you might want your insurance company to handle the repair of your vehicle. Getting your car repaired is important to your future safety when using the car.

Also, talk to your automobile insurance provider about coverage that protects you when the other driver does not have enough insurance or any insurance. There is coverage that will pay your medical bills regardless of who is at fault for the crash. You should also look into GAP coverage in case your car is totaled because you will only be paid the fair market value of the car and not the amount left on your loan.

Make sure you have uninsured and underinsured (UM/UIM) motorist coverage. Getting hit by someone who has no insurance or not enough insurance to cover your damages can be catastrophic. We frequently see problems like this, often leaving those with injuries without any compensation.  You should protect yourself by having this coverage.

Contact a Top Rated Truck Accident Lawyer

Being involved in a truck accident is stressful, complicated, and time-intensive. Hiring the right attorney can make all the difference in the world. An experienced truck accident lawyer will help you gather evidence, assist with your insurance claim, and make the whole process easier. Contact Gage Mathers Law Group for a free consultation to discuss your accident and how best to protect your legal rights.

Bullet Points of What to Do After a Truck Accident

If you have been in a truck accident or are being proactive, these bullet points will help you build a strong case against the at-fault driver:

1. Call 911 to have police and EMS respond. Having police reports and EMS assessments will help prove your case.
2. Take photos of all the vehicles involved in the crash, front and back. The damage to your car only tells part of the story.
3. Take photos of the area where the crash occurred. This helps paint a picture of the events.
4. Take photos of the people involved in the crash and any insurance documents they share. It might be necessary for identification purposes later.
5. Take photos of your injuries: right after the crash and periodically to show the progression. A picture will better show a jury your injuries.
6. Record any information you receive, either by photo, video, email, electronic note, or on paper.
7. Try to identify potential witnesses and obtain their contact information.
8. Go to urgent care or the hospital to make sure you are not seriously injured.
9. Contact your car insurance company to begin the process of getting your car repaired and opening up claims for bodily injury.
10. Contact an experienced trial lawyer to begin taking steps to protect your rights and obtain the money you deserve.
11. Follow up with your primary doctor, a physical therapist, chiropractor, or other medical specialists to ensure you get the medical attention you need.
12. Try to see health care providers who accept your health insurance and make sure they bill your health insurance. Many providers use state law to try and extract more money from you than they are entitled to receive through your health insurance.
13. You should consider obtaining medical payment coverage or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to protect yourself from inadequately insured drivers.

About the Author

Joseph D'Aguanno

Guided by the belief that being a highly skilled specialist in a narrow field is better than being ordinary in everything, Joseph “JD” D’Aguanno leads Arizona’s best personal injury law firm in Phoenix, AZ. Having extensive cross-training in pre-litigation negotiations and trial lawyer skills, with decades of experience, JD strives to provide clients with the most valuable legal services a personal injury lawyer can provide. Under his direction, Gage Mathers Law Group is an award-winning personal injury law firm providing aggressive representation to victims of a car accident, medical malpractice, dog bite, motorcycle accident, and other injurious events. Gage Mathers is trusted by thousands of lawyers and clients throughout the country because of their reputation for getting clients the maximum compensation they deserve.

Years of experience: Over 23 years
Bar number: 020421
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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