A truck accident can be devastating and even more so than a regular car collision. Trucks are much larger and heavier than cars, and the results can be catastrophic when colliding with smaller vehicles. In addition, trucks often carry heavy loads, which can cause even more damage in a crash.
If you got involved in a truck accident, it is essential to take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones. The first step is ensuring that everyone is safe from the event. It might require you to leave your vehicle and assess the situation first. If it is safe, you should move to the side of the road and away from oncoming traffic. Then, you’d have to get checked by medical professionals, ensuring you don’t have any life-threatening injuries from the truck accident.
Once you pass health and safety protocols, you can gather all the details necessary to seek justice for what happened to you, especially when the truck driver is at fault. Here are a few points you must secure during the incident.
Hospitalization Costs
Medical bills are one of the most critical pieces of evidence in any personal injury claim. If you got injured in a truck accident, it’s essential to keep track of all medical bills related to the accident. This includes doctor’s visits, consultations, treatments, surgeries, and medication.
Keeping track of medical bills is essential for several reasons. First, it proves that you got injured in the accident and that the collision caused the injuries. Second, it shows how much money you’ve spent on medical expenses related to the accident. This can help with calculating damages in a personal injury lawsuit.
Finally, keeping track of medical bills can be helpful if you need to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company. The insurance company will likely want to know how much you’ve spent on medical expenses. Having accurate and up-to-date information will make getting the compensation you deserve easier. The costs for an injured person in a truck accident reaches above the six-digit threshold, and it would be unfair if you have to pay for them.
Truck Driver’s Contact Information
One of the first things you should do after a truck accident is to get the driver’s contact information. This list includes the driver’s name, address, phone number, and the insurance company. It would also be helpful to get the truck’s license plate number.
This information is essential because you will use it to file an insurance claim. The insurance company will need this information to process your claim. It would also be helpful if you filed a personal injury lawsuit against the truck driver.
The Police Report
After a truck accident, it is advisable to call the police so they can investigate the incident and create an official report. The police report can be used as evidence in a personal injury lawsuit or insurance claim.
The police report will contain essential information about the accident, such as the collision’s date, time, and location. It will also list the names and contact information of the parties involved in the accident. The police report will also include a description of the accident and the injuries sustained by the parties involved.
Witness Information
If there are any witnesses to the accident, they must get their names and contact information. Witnesses can provide valuable testimony about what happened during the accident. They can help establish who is at fault for the collision. However, it is essential to prepare witnesses for their testimonies to ensure they can be helpful for your case.
If you have a camera or smartphone, taking pictures of the accident scene would be helpful. These pictures can be used as evidence in an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
The above are some of the most critical details to secure when getting involved in a truck accident. It is essential to take these steps to protect yourself and your loved ones.
How Those Details Can Help When You File a Lawsuit or Claim
The details mentioned above can help you in many ways. It would be best to have them when filing a personal injury lawsuit or insurance claim. However, you must consult with a truck accident law firm to ensure you’re taking the necessary steps. They can ensure that your journey to seeking justice for the trucking accident will be a seamless process.
While they can certainly help in securing those details, it will be necessary to do it yourself because hiring a lawyer for your lawsuit might take place months after the accident. You will need time to recover, which means some of the information you need might no longer be available or challenging to recover, especially the witness information.
Conclusion
When getting involved in a truck accident, taking note of the details mentioned above is critical. These will be handy when filing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. It would also be best to consult with a truck accident law firm for guidance on proceeding with your case.