Truck accidents tend to get pretty serious and oftentimes leave the victims with sheer anxiety and injuries. Your vehicle getting severely damaged can be a prominent issue here as well.

Due to this reason, when people undergo something as such, they naturally feel a little lost. It, in turn, makes them oblivious to doing a few important things as quickly as possible.

Hence in this article, we have explained a few of them so that if someone you know has gone through something as such – you’ll be able to help them out.

So, let’s get started with it.

5 Things You Should Do After A Truck Accident

It may be difficult for you to think straight right after you have come out of a life-threatening situation. But, no matter what happens, the first thing you need to do is go to a doctor. Even if you haven’t been excruciatingly injured, you should at least look for the signs of concussions.

You might feel okay at the beginning.

But as you keep going, you will feel nauseous and drowsy later on. And in extreme cases, it’s also going to make you lose your senses all of a sudden. So, even if you feel okay, it’s a must to go for a check-up right away – just to check if you are doing okay or not.

Once you are done with it, you should –

1: Call Your Lawyer

If you are well and good, the first person you should be calling is your lawyer. This way, they can get to you as the earliest and take note of the entire scenario. If possible, they might also get started with their investigation. For example –

• They can take pictures of the scene where the accident happened.
• Talk to people and take a note to understand how it occurred.
• Converse with you about your current situation and try to get you back in shape.

Furthermore, they may also get in touch with your insurer and tell them about the damage the car has received. This way, it will be easier for you to get the insurance money easily.

A Teaneck truck accident lawyer can also help you with the documentation that you must do later on. So, it might be better to have someone like that in your corner.

2: Inform The Police

The next thing you have to do is call the police. A car accident is a sort of calamity and, thus, should be brought to the attention of the authority. So, the call should be made quickly.

Make sure to call the police and let the dispatcher know that an accident has occurred. A team will arrive there as soon as they can and begin the investigation.

However, no matter what happens, don’t utter a single word to the police until your lawyer or attorney has arrived there. You may end up saying something that can be played against you.

3: Take Pictures Of The Location

If you are still feeling okay, try to take your phone out and click pictures of the scene. It must be done properly and thoroughly, as these can be used later on as evidence.

Here’s what you should capture on your mobile phone –

• The extent of damage to the vehicle
• The entire scene of the accident
• The position of the vehicles that were involved in the accident
• The injuries you have received due to the catastrophe
• The other people who caught up in the same incident

Apart from these, you should also click a picture of something else that might potentially help you with the investigation. The more thorough you are, the better. If you feel like the weather has played a role in this regard, you may take a picture of the sky as well.

4: Exchange Information, Carefully

Once you’ve clicked the pictures, try to be proactive and start taking information from all the other people involved in the scene. It will include the other drivers and pedestrians too.

While you are at it, we would ask you not to get too involved with them. Just present a query and note the answer down on your phone or a notebook right away.

And if they ask you something, make sure to give a vague answer to them. It won’t be a good idea to say something that might get you in trouble later on.

In addition to talking, you should also collect other information like –

• The full name of the driver and their physical address
• If possible, get their email address too
• The license plate numbers of the drivers
• Their insurance policy numbers and names

If there was a truck involved in the action, you should also ask for their employer’s name too. The address and phone number should be taken during the process as well.

5: Talk To A Witness Or Two

A statement provided by a witness can be exceptionally important in an accident claim, as the person is going to offer an unbiased opinion. So it may be a good idea to talk to everyone and record whatever they are saying. You may also note them down for a better understanding.

Note: The responding officer will also talk to the witnesses at the scene. However, before they arrive, someone else might talk to them and bribe them to change their opinion.

So, it might be best to take a record of what they are saying before anyone forcefully changes the information. That’s why we have also asked you to keep it on record.

The Bottom Line

Being proactive and careful, especially at an accident scene, is going to be very important. So we would ask you to be prepared and don’t let anything slip from your lips.

Just get as much information as you can get and move on. Also, don’t forget to give whatever data you have gotten to your lawyer. It will help them conduct their findings accordingly.+

Read Also:

• Steps To Take When Your Truck Accident Police Report Is Inaccurate: A Guide
• Drunk Driving Accident Cases – 5 Things You Need To Know
• Commercial Truck Accident Settlement Guide