What to Do After a Truck Accident: A Step-by-Step Guide
A serious accident with a commercial truck or semi-trailer can upend your life in a matter of moments. In 2023, San Diego County alone had nearly 500,000 registered trucks, including many large commercial vehicles. The sheer size and weight of such trucks are no match for the average passenger vehicle in the event of a collision.
If you have been in a truck accident, you may be facing a difficult recovery period, emotional trauma, and financial uncertainty. The steps you take immediately after such an incident may significantly impact your ability to receive much-needed compensation for your losses.
In this article, we will discuss what to do after a truck accident, as well as how an attorney can help your case. Taking certain actions after the collision will go a long way toward ensuring your physical and financial well-being, as well as preserving your right to file a valid truck accident claim.
Important Steps You Should Take Following a California Truck Accident
A truck-driving accident can be scary. In the aftermath of such an incident, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure of what steps to take to pursue a successful personal injury claim. When you find yourself in this position, you can make the most of your legal options by taking the following steps.
Call emergency services without delay
Immediately after a truck accident, it is wise to call 911, regardless of the severity of the collision. When police and emergency medical responders arrive quickly at the accident scene, everyone involved in the accident will get the help they need.
Provide the police officers with a clear and accurate account of all the events that led up to the truck accident. The responding police officers will write a police report detailing what they observed at the accident scene.
This will initiate an investigation into how the accident occurred and who was responsible, thereby helping you establish a foundation for your subsequent personal injury claim.
Seek medical attention
Some collisions may not seem serious at first. You may not think that you have been significantly hurt. That said, seeking medical help as soon as possible after a truck accident is in your best interests.
At times, even life-threatening injuries are not immediately apparent. Thus, even if emergency medical responders checked you over at the accident scene, it is advantageous to get a further medical evaluation to ensure you are okay.
What’s more, insurance companies and courts are skeptical of people who refuse medical treatment after an accident. Without a medical evaluation, you may not be able to prove the truck accident was the direct cause of your injuries. This could significantly jeopardize your chances of receiving fair compensation.
Get the contact information of everyone involved in the truck accident
Going forward, it is critical that you can identify and locate every individual who may have played a role in the truck collision. Ask for detailed contact and insurance information from all parties involved in the accident.
At the accident scene, obtain the following information from the truck driver:
- His or her full legal name, phone number, address, and email
- The truck’s license plate number and vehicle registration
- The truck driver’s commercial driver’s license number
- The truck driver’s trucking company or employer
- The insurance company and policy number of the commercial driver
By taking down this information at the scene of the truck accident, you ensure that you will be able to contact and hold accountable every party that contributed to your losses. Neglecting to do so can cause a marked delay in the accident claims process.
Get the contact information of any eyewitnesses to the truck accident
In addition to gathering contact information from the parties involved in the accident, you will want to be able to contact and seek testimony from the eyewitnesses as to what occurred that day.
A truck accident scene can be chaotic and emotionally fraught. A level-headed eyewitness account can be helpful in establishing what really happened in the moments leading up to the incident. Oftentimes, witness statements play a crucial role in supporting your version of events and enhancing compensation amounts.
Document the scene of the truck accident
The success of your truck accident claim will depend much on the evidence you can provide. If at all possible, take pictures and video footage of the scene of the collision and any factors that contributed to the accident.
Document such things as:
- Damage to the vehicles involved
- Visible injuries
- Traffic conditions
- Weather conditions
- Relevant traffic signs
- Other property damage
- Anything else that may have played a part in the truck accident
Additionally, video from the accident scene may be telling about the mental and emotional state of the other parties involved. It could reveal which driver caused the accident and whether distracted driving or other negligent acts were the cause.
It is also a good idea to put in writing everything you can remember before, during, and after the accident. This will help you clearly recount what happened as you pursue your truck accident claim.
Notify your insurance company of the truck accident
Promptly inform your insurance company about the truck accident in adherence to your policy’s reporting requirements. By initiating the insurance claims process in a timely manner, you demonstrate your commitment to attaining a just and fair resolution.
When speaking with the insurance company, be sure to give factual and concise information only. While insurance policies are intended to support accident victims, the companies themselves will often work to minimize due financial compensation.
An experienced truck accident lawyer can communicate with the insurance company on your behalf, thus easing the stress and pressure involved in insurance settlement negotiations.
Report any damages worth over $1,000
California law requires that you report any vehicle accident that results in physical injury or property damage equating to over $1,000 within 10 days of the incident. All parties involved in the accident complaining of bodily injury must be named in the report.
Keep detailed records
As your truck injury claim progresses, it is imperative that you keep detailed records. Even seemingly small bits of information can collectively provide powerful evidence in your favor.
Keep track of such things as:
- Medical expenses related to the accident
- Vehicle repair bills
- Lost wages if the accident caused you to miss work
- Correspondence with the insurance company
- Photographic evidence from the accident scene and your recovery period
- Witness statements
- Police report
- Your personal journal or incident log
Make sure to keep such records for the entire duration of your truck accident case. Having detailed and well-organized records will give you peace of mind and aid your claim as it moves forward.
Consult a California truck accident lawyer
Truck accident cases can be complicated. The idea of trying to prove the truck driver’s fault and entering legal proceedings while recovering from your injuries may seem like an uphill battle. That’s where a knowledgeable legal professional comes into play.
When you hire a truck accident attorney, you have an advocate on your side. He or she will focus on your claim and getting the restitution you deserve while you focus on your recovery.
How a Truck Accident Attorney Can Assist You
In the wake of a truck accident, you may be dealing with physical pain, untold stress, and the other driver’s unrelenting insurance adjusters. Under such pressure, you need an adept legal representative to go to bat for you.
A truck accident attorney can ease the legal process by supporting you in the following essential ways:
- Explaining your rights: A truck accident lawyer knows the laws and how to use the legal system to attain your rightful compensation. He or she can give you knowledgeable and unbiased advice on how to best proceed with your claim.
- Conducting a thorough investigation into the accident: A well-practiced lawyer will investigate the scene of the accident for any relevant information. He or she will also review photos and video evidence from the incident, to firmly establish what took place.
- Analyzing accident reports and medical records: In a personal injury claim it is important to connect your injuries and losses to the truck accident. Your lawyer will use the emergency responder and police reports from the accident scene, as well as the medical records outlining the severity of your injuries and the subsequent medical treatment to do this.
- Interviewing eyewitnesses and industry professionals: To reinforce your case, your truck accident attorney will interview witnesses to the accident. He or she may also consult medical experts to understand and explain the full extent of your truck accident injuries. Additionally, accident reconstruction specialists may be commissioned to determine how the truck collision occurred accurately.
- Assessing damages: Your car accident lawyer can help you gauge the full extent of your physical, emotional, and financial losses. By thoroughly assessing your current damages as well as evaluating what your future expenses may be, your attorney will ensure that you seek enough compensation to meet your long-term needs comfortably.
- Identifying sources of compensation: In truck accident cases, there is oftentimes more than one potential source of compensation for your damages. These may include the truck driver, the trucking company, and others. Identifying all liable parties in the truck crash is essential to maximize your restitution amount.
- Filing paperwork: Truck accident insurance claims typically involve filing a significant amount of paperwork. Your attorney will help you to do this in an organized and timely manner, ensuring that no important deadlines are missed.
- Communicating with the trucking company and insurers: Your lawyer can handle all communication with the involved parties on your behalf. Further, he or she will enter settlement negotiations with the insurance company for you.
- Reviewing settlement offers: Your attorney will carefully review any settlement offers to ensure these fully meet your needs. He or she will also challenge any attempt to diminish or deny your truck accident claim.
- Preparing your case for litigation: Mediation or arbitration hearings may be called for in the process of resolving your case. Your lawyer will make sure you are well-prepared for such legal proceedings.
- Representing you in court if necessary: Although most truck accident cases are settled out of court, having a lawyer already familiar with your case is beneficial when your case goes to trial. Experienced court representation can go a long way in ensuring a more favorable outcome for truck accident victims.
If you have been hurt in a truck accident, hiring a capable attorney is in your best interest. A seasoned personal injury lawyer has the knowledge and experience to help you seek justice for your pain and suffering.
Reach Out to Empathetic California Truck Accident Attorneys for Help
A truck accident can negatively impact your life for the foreseeable future. You may be facing life-altering injuries, lost work, and mounting medical bills. If this is the situation you find yourself in, you need help to get the restitution you deserve.
When truck drivers cause an accident, the law can be put to work to protect you. The experienced California truck accident attorneys at Harker Injury Law are here to support you throughout this trying period. Our compassionate and professional legal team stands ready to walk you through each of the steps involved in the truck accident claims process.
When you or a loved one doesn’t know what to do after a truck accident, come tell us your story. Click here to fill out our online contact form, or call 760-INJURED to schedule a free consultation. The best interest of each client always comes first.
