What Should You Do After a Truck Accident?
Truck accidents are quite dangerous, not just for other vehicles on the road but also for pedestrians. When a truck accident happens, there is a huge chance that many people will be injured or their property will get extensively damaged.
In 2018, a total of 4,951 people died(1) due to large-truck crashes. These fatalities were not just occupants of vehicles. Some of them were pedestrians and bicyclists.
Aside from personal injuries, property can also get badly damaged(2) due to truck accidents. In 2017, there were 363,000 property damage-only (PDO)(3) – crashes recorded in the US, resulting in millions of dollars of losses.
Because of the possible damages that can arise from a truck accident, most truck accidents result in a lawsuit or monetary claim. Depending on your damages, whether you suffer personal injuries from the accident or just property damage, there are several things to remember to ensure that you can collect compensation from the responsible person.
Things to Remember When You Get Hurt in a Truck Accident
- Seek medical help first. This is true whether you are a pedestrian or passenger in another vehicle. The first thing to do is to make sure you get proper treatment. Call 911 if you can, and seek help immediately.
- Talk with your healthcare provider. Ask everything about the injuries related to your accident, especially if you have been hospitalized. Learn about your injuries and find out how long you can expect to need treatment for a full recovery. Take pictures of your injuries if you are able. These actions will give you a clear idea of how severe your injuries are and how you recover.
- Notify your employer. Inform your employer that you were involved in a truck accident to ensure that you are not penalized for your absence. Providing notice to your employer can help you when you claim for damages, such as lost income.
- Take notes of what you remember from the accident. Once you can, list everything that you remember from the accident. When was it? What time of the day was it? Was it rainy or sunny? Where were you standing or driving? Recording this information will give you a timely record to go back to if your memory begins to feel hazy.
- Take pictures with your phone or camera. If there are later questions as to the facts, damages, which vehicles were positioned where, who was injured or other matters, having a photographic (or video) record will go a long way in establishing your case. Don’t rely just on police reports – use your camera to collect your own evidence.
- Talk with the people who were around the area during the accident. Try to talk with those who were present at the scene of the accident. Witnesses may include people you were with during the accident or those who have shops or houses around the area. Getting their accounts of events can give you some useful evidence or possible witnesses to help you in case you want to file a trucking accident lawsuit against the responsible person. Be sure to get their name and phone number as well.
- Collect all receipts and medical records. Make sure to collect all paperwork related to your accident. Paperwork should include medical records, receipts, invoices for medical services, repairs, insurance records, and other documents that have to do with the accident. Make digital copies, as well.
- Make a list of everything that was damaged. Assuming you have sustained property damage, make a list (and take photos if possible) of what was damaged and how. You may include these in the amount of damages you can seek against the person responsible for the accident.
- Obtain copies of camera footage around the area. If possible, get a copy of the footage of anything within the area during the accident. This may include the memory card from a neighbor’s camera, a shop’s security footage, or even from traffic cameras. Any footage you can recover might help you understand what exactly happened the day of your accident.
- Seek professional legal help. Often, people involved in trucking accidents suffer severe personal injuries and damages. You want to make sure you collect an amount that truly reflects how badly you have suffered. There might also be several parties responsible for your truck accident. Seeking help from professional, experienced truck accident lawyers can ensure you seek the maximum amount of compensation allowed by law from all entities that might be liable. It is always best after a truck accident to consult with competent lawyers to ensure that your rights are protected.
Contact Our Long Island Truck Accident Lawyers Today
If you have been involved in a truck accident in Long Island, contact our Long Island trucking accident lawyers for a free case evaluation. Our truck accident lawyers at Levine And Wiss, PLLC, have the experience and dedication you want on your side when truck accident injuries cause you financial, physical, and emotional suffering.
Call Levine And Wiss, the Long Island truck accident lawyers who are here to protect your legal rights. Call us today at 888-GOT-HURT or (888) 468-4878.
Sources
- https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/road-users/large-trucks/
- https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/research-and-analysis/large-truck-crash-causation-study-analysis-brief
- https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/large-truck-and-bus-crash-facts-2017