Getting into a truck collision is dangerous and can cost a lot of money. Did you know you can get compensation for a commercial truck accident?
Whether you’re working for a commercial truck company or you’re in a regular car, a semi-truck accident can cause many problems. Due to the massive size of semi-trucks, other vehicles often get totaled when they collide with one.
When getting into a commercial truck accident, you may suffer a variety of injuries that will prevent you from working and doing other activities. Fortunately, you can get money to pay for anything related to the accident if it wasn’t your fault, making the recovery process much easier.
Here are 4 important steps to take after a semi-truck accident.
- Call the Police
After getting into a semi-truck accident, the first thing you must do is call the police. This part is crucial because they’ll be the ones to call in extra help if needed. They’ll also write down information about the situation. All of this will help you establish a timeline, which makes your case better when seeking compensation.
When the police arrive, you’ll describe everything that happened. Because it’s car-related, they’ll check everyone involved to see if anyone was under the influence. It doesn’t matter if a driver wasn’t at fault, they’ll be arrested if they were driving under the influence.
If you can, try to take pictures of both vehicles and the area of the accident. You’ll want to gather as much information as possible so that you can take this to court if needed.
You should then get adequate driver information about the other party and their insurance. If they’re severely injured, call 911 instead of waiting for the police to arrive. You won’t be able to get their insurance information until later.
- Seek Medical Attention
Even if you don’t think you’ve suffered a truck accident injury, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. When contacting the police, they may arrive with an emergency vehicle for anyone that needs to go to the hospital.
It’s best to avoid driving because there’s a chance that you may be impaired after the accident. Try to contact someone and have them take you to get looked at. The only reason why you should avoid taking an ambulance is if you can’t afford one. If you don’t have any injuries, spending the money won’t be worth it.
When you get to a doctor, you’ll need to explain the situation to them just like you did with the police. Show them any injuries you’re sure of and they can provide you with proper treatment.
Because it was a commercial truck accident, they’ll see if you have a concussion or another type of brain injury. If you do have a brain injury, you’ll be instructed to stay off the road until you’ve fully recovered.
- Contact Insurance Providers
After seeking medical attention, the next step after getting into a commercial truck accident is to contact both your and the other driver’s insurance providers. If you’re on the job, you should also contact your employer and inform them of the incident.
Describe the situation to both insurance providers so that appropriate action can be taken. If the other driver was at fault, there’s a chance that their insurance will offer a settlement providing there’s substantial evidence.
When taking a settlement from the insurance provider, you’ll most likely get less money than you could when filing a lawsuit. However, it’s a quick and guaranteed way to get compensation.
If you decide to file a lawsuit, you’ll run the risk of not getting anything. However, you can get enough money to repair or replace your vehicle while covering medical expenses.
- Hire a Lawyer
Before you take a settlement or file a lawsuit, you must look into truck accident lawyers. A truck accident lawyer can help you in several ways, ensuring that you get the compensation you deserve.
With a lawyer, you’ll gather more evidence that can be used to present to the other driver. This evidence will also help in court if you file a lawsuit because it’ll show the judge that the accident wasn’t your fault.
Your lawyer will represent you so that you don’t have to do any talking. If you decide to file a lawsuit, they’ll also represent you in the courtroom to ensure nothing is said that could risk losing your case.
The main goal of a truck accident attorney is to provide you with legal advice throughout the entire process. Whether you file a lawsuit or take a settlement, they’ll tell you what the best option would be.
If you have a significant amount of evidence, they may recommend you take the case to court. However, if the other party is offering a large settlement, you may be better off taking it. Your lawyer will tell you the amount they think you can get in compensation and the odds of winning.
Get Compensated for a Semi-Truck Accident Today
Now that you have a better understanding of what you should do after getting into a semi-truck accident, you shouldn’t have a problem getting compensation. Ensure that if you get into a semi-truck accident that you start going through these steps immediately.
If you don’t establish a timeline, it’ll be hard for you to convince anyone that you’re concerned about injuries. All you need to do is contact the authorities to get the timeline started, but seeing a doctor will help.
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