No one expects to get involved in a truck accident, and obviously, no one wants to for very clear reasons: those hulking trucks can do a ton of damage in a single crash. And with all that damage comes the chance of someone experiencing immense financial burden–or worse, someone losing their life.
If you end up in one of these accidents for some unfortunate reason, it pays to be prepared and knowledgeable about how to safeguard your rights. To ease your financial (and, by extension, physical and emotional) burden, you can hire a truck accident lawyer to help you process your claim. While you can file a claim and follow up on the compensation independently, having an attorney on your side can make the process easier and faster.
With that said, here are six important things to consider after a truck accident:
Ensure Your Safety
Immediately after an accident, confirm that everyone you are with is safe. This means getting them out of the car or away from the road where other vehicles may be passing through. Also, carry out a quick physical check on yourself. Are you bleeding? Are there any signs of broken bones?
Depending on the extent of your injuries, you can carry out first aid or call an emergency medical services provider immediately.
Contact the Local Authorities
Regardless of whether you have been injured, contact Bakersfield local authorities to report the accident. Call 911 and ask law enforcement officers to be sent to the accident scene. At the scene, provide a report to the police. Only provide information that you are sure about.
Filing an official police report is crucial, especially if you will be going ahead with a claim. Your insurance company may rely on the police report to determine the liability of the accident, which can determine whether you will be compensated.
Get information
A truck accident can leave you shaken and unable to think. However, if you are not immobilized, you must start safeguarding your interests at the scene. One of the things you can do is to gather information regarding the accident.
For example, get the other driver’s contact details, his commercial driver’s license (CDL) number, insurance carrier information, and so on. Also, get the contact details of any witnesses of the accident. The witnesses can help strengthen your case should the matter go to trial.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Get in touch with your insurance company and report the accident. Provide all the details about the accident, such as where it happened, what time it happened, how many casualties were involved, and so on. Sometimes, the insurance provider may send its agents to the accident scene to help with gathering evidence.
Work with an Attorney
Filing a truck accident claim is relatively easy. However, coming up with the right compensation and following the responsible parties for the settlement can be a headache. After an accident, you may need help to follow up on a claim. Therefore, hiring a truck accident attorney to help you makes sense.
An attorney will work for your best interests, ensuring you are properly compensated for your losses. The attorney can help file a claim, contact the insurance company on your behalf, negotiate a settlement with the other party, and so on. Choose an attorney with a track record of successfully completing truck accident cases.
Preserve Evidence
When determining the amount of compensation you deserve, various things must be considered. These include loss of income, medical bills incurred, mental anguish and emotional toil, inability to enjoy everyday life, and so on.
To get a fair settlement, you must provide evidence of your losses. Therefore, keep all receipts for any expenses related to the accident. These include hospital bills, car repair bills, physical rehabilitation bills, etc. Truck accidents can leave you with serious injuries, mental anguish, and financial burden–perhaps far more serious ones. However, you can make it easy to enjoy a good quality of life even after the accident. Following the six tips above will ensure your rights are protected and you get fair compensation for your losses.