The steps you take following a semi-truck accident could affect your health as well as your ability to recover compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial effects of the accident.
Here are five things you should do if you were hit by a semi-truck:
1. Seek Medical Care
Ideally, you should do this as soon as you leave the scene of the crash. But even if it has been days or weeks since the accident occurred, you should seek medical care if you have not done so already.
For one thing, even if you do not look or feel injured, you could have internal injuries of which you are not aware. If so, you want it addressed as quickly as possible. Also, a medical evaluation connects your injuries to your accident. We can use this evidence to help you get a fair settlement.
2. Report the Accident
You should report the accident to the police and your insurance company as soon as possible. This creates a record of the accident and may fulfill a contractural obligation to inform your insurer of any wrecks in which you are involved, even if you are not at fault. The police report may be especially important as we pursue fair compensation for your damages, as it may help us prove fault and liability.
3. Do Not Talk About the Accident
Do not discuss the details of the accident to with an insurance company. The insurer might twist your words or take them out of context to imply that you are partially at fault or that your injuries are not as severe as you claim. Also avoid speaking about the accident with the truck driver, trucking company, and any other parties that contact you after your accident. If you receive a phone call about the accident, politely decline to discuss it until you speak with your lawyer.
4. Speak With a Truck Accident Attorney
We recommend hiring an attorney as quickly as possible after a semi-truck accident. At S. Burke Law, we are familiar with auto accident cases involving commercial trucks. Best of all, we do not get paid until you do, so there is no risk in coming in for a free consultation. Once you join the S. Burke Law family, we take care of everything – the paperwork, the negotiations, and, if necessary, the lawsuit against the trucking company or other responsible parties. You can focus on what is important – your family and your recovery.
5. Give All Information You Have to Your Attorney
When you were at the scene of the crash, did you take pictures? Record videos? Speak to witnesses and exchange contact information? Obtain a copy of the police report? Share it with your lawyer. If you did none of these things, do not worry – the team at S. Burke Law can evaluate what evidence is available and retrieve important documents and records to help us build your case.