If you have been injured in a commercial vehicle wreck, you may be eligible to receive compensation. However, most of us have never thought of that “what if” scenario before. It is important to understand what action should be taken in the event of a commercial vehicle crash. Here are the first steps to take after a truck accident should you ever be involved in one.
First Steps to Take After a Truck Accident | Seek Medical Attention
The absolute most important step you can take is seeking medical attention. You should never wait to see a doctor for a few reasons. You may think that you have a minor injury that will solve itself, but you risk it getting much worse if you don’t get it looked at. Also, for us to be able to prove to the insurance company that their insured caused you harm, we use your medical records and if they see that you waited to get medical care, they will either claim you were not that injured if you could wait or that your injuries came from something else. Make sure you are getting medical attention right away.
Get Our FREE Truck Accident Guide
First Steps to Take After a Truck Accident | Collect Evidence
Another important step is collection of evidence, if you are able to stay on the scene. If you are swept off on an ambulance, you can have a friend, family member, or attorney go to the scene and collect this evidence for you. You will want to get the insurance information from the truck driver and any other drivers involved. You should get the contact information from any witnesses to the accident as their testimony may be extremely important to you later.
First Steps to Take After a Truck Accident | Do NOT Speak to Insurance Companies
The next thing you should do, or rather should avoid doing is interacting with the insurance company for the truck driver and/or liable party. You will be contacted shortly after your accident by the insurance company adjuster and they will be asking to get a recorded statement from you. It is not legally necessary for you to give them a statement. You can have your attorney take over all communication with them to avoid them cornering you into saying something damaging to your case.
If you have been involved in a truck accident that left you terribly injured, know that you have legal options. Please call the Jacksonville truck accident attorneys at Edwards & Ragatz as soon as possible to go over the details of your case during a free consultation and determine what would be the best next step for your case. We are dedicated to get our clients the compensation for their injuries and damages that they deserve. Please call us today to see how we can help you get the best possible result.