Being involved in a commercial semi-truck accident, whether you were driving the truck or in another vehicle, can be an incredibly scary time, and even more so if you have no idea what you’re doing after. Mentally, physically, and financially, it’s easy to be unsure of what to do and what steps you need to take next.
Fortunately, in today’s guide, we’re going to share with you what you need to know when involved in the semi-truck accident, giving you peace of mind that you know the process you need to follow.
Get Medically Checked
The absolute first thing you’re going to want to do is to get yourself a medical examination. Even if you don’t have signs or symptoms of something wrong, you may have something affected over the long-term that you have no idea about. With a medical examination, they’ll be able to look into this and make a record of anything out of the ordinary.
This is vital because if six months down the line you’re suffering from a bad back, whiplash, or some kind of internal injury that relates to the truck accident, and you need time off work, you’ll have everything in place to receive compensation and legal support for your case; ensuring you’re not left out of pocket.
Gather Evidence
When you’re at the scene, and after the scene, make sure you’re taking the information of the drivers involved in the accident. If you’re in a car and you’ve been hit by a commercial driver, make sure you take their name, their operating number, their identification number, and the company they work for. You’ll also need to make sure you get in contact with this company at some point to talk through what happened.
The more evidence you have, the better your case will be. This includes taking photographs on your phone of the scene, witness statements and phone numbers of people who may have seen the accident, and any other details that showcase what happened.
Involve the Insurance Companies
The earlier you involve your insurance company in the accident, the quicker they can get to work on getting you the compensation or legal assistance you need. Sometimes there may be deadlines that need to be met legally, or you will need to communicate with the commercial company involved since it’s their insurance company you’ll be dealing with.
Sometimes, you may need to consider going to court to get the repairs or compensation you deserve. For this, you’re going to want a semi-truck accident lawyer who operates in this area of law.
Play the Waiting Game
Sometimes, legal and insurance processes can take a long time to deal with, and you’ll need to make sure you’re exercising patience. Depending on how well you and the commercial company, and the driver of the semi-truck is cooperating, sometimes weeks can pass without hearing anything. Just be headstrong and bear with it.
Summary
As you can see, there are several key things that happen after being involved in a truck accident, but as long as you’re being organized and thinking/planning for the future, you’ll be able to get the best result that doesn’t leave you hurt, in a rut, or out of pocket!
