Truck accidents can be extremely dangerous due to the massive size and weight of large trucks compared to passenger vehicles. 5,936 people died in truck accidents in 2022, a 2% increase on the previous year. 16% of truck crashes happen in the morning, and 17% between noon and 3 PM.
If you are ever involved in an accident with a large truck, there are essential steps you should take to protect yourself and gather evidence for any potential legal action.
Assess Your Injuries and Get Medical Attention
Your first priority after a truck accident should always be your health and safety. Take stock of any injuries you or your passengers have sustained and call 911 immediately if anyone needs emergency medical care. Even if you believe you are uninjured, you should still get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible after the accident – there were 86,842 injuries in truck accidents in 2023.
Report the Accident to the Police
You should always contact the police after a truck accident, even if it seems minor. Only 3% of large truck crashes involve an impaired driver, but speeding was a major factor in 32% of crashes. A police report will be critical evidence if you need to make an insurance claim or pursue compensation in court later on. The officers who respond will interview witnesses, document the damage to vehicles, determine fault if possible, and make their official incident report of what happened. Having an objective, third-party account from law enforcement can help support your version of events. Make sure to get the officers’ names and badge numbers as well as a copy of the police report for your records.
If Possible, Gather Evidence After a Truck Accident
If you have a dash cam or other video footage, preserve the recording and do not tamper. All of this evidence will help investigators reconstruct the accident later on.
Exchange Information with Other Drivers
You should exchange insurance and contact information with the truck driver as well as any other motorists involved. Get their name, driver’s license number, insurance details including carrier and policy number, license plate, and company information if it was a commercial truck. Avoid speculating about what happened or accepting blame. Just stick to factual exchanges of information. Having the truck driver’s information is essential for any insurance or legal claims.
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer
It is highly advisable to contact an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible after the crash. Truck accident lawyers can conduct a full investigation, communicate with insurance companies on your behalf, determine grounds for legal action, and file a claim to pursue compensation for your damages. With a lawyer’s help, you are more likely to recover damages for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, property damage, and other losses incurred.
Truck accidents are particularly complex cases that require experience to navigate laws for commercial vehicles and manage insurance claim procedures. Being proactive and following these steps will put you in the best position to recover and move forward after a traumatic truck crash.
