Things You Need to Do When Involved in a Truck Accident

Getting into a truck accident is one of the last things that anyone wants to experience. However, it happens more often than you might think. Whether you are a truck driver or someone else, you need to know what actions are necessary after an accident has occurred. Here are the steps you need to take.

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Seek Medical Attention 

Seeking medical attention should be your number one priority. Even if you don’t suspect anything is hurt, go see a doctor as soon as possible. Truck accidents can easily cause severe injuries that you might not notice right away or think are not serious. Here are the most common injuries from truck accidents:

Head Trauma

Head trauma is one of the most serious injuries you can get in a truck accident. What happens is that the truck, after being hit by the larger vehicle, is pushed rapidly forward. This jolts your head back and forth quickly which can cause tears to brain tissue.

Broken Bones

If you are involved in a truck accident with another large vehicle or truck, it will not take much force to break bones in your body. This is a very common injury that can be caused by being involved in a truck accident.

Neck Injuries

In some cases, the neck may be injured by the force of an accident. Sometimes whiplash will occur which can cause stiffness and pain to the neck area after the accident is over. This pain may last for days, weeks, or even longer depending on the severity of the injury.

Back Injury

Back injuries are common in truck accidents because the driver or passenger is sitting in a chair that can move in an accident. When this happens, your back is jerked forward and then backward rapidly which can cause severe pain.

Hire A Lawyer

Legal issues are one of the last things on your mind when you have been in an accident with a truck. However, it is important to hire a lawyer so that your case can be handled correctly by the legal system.

This is because if the accident was caused by the negligence of someone else, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. A lawyer will be able to help you get the money that you need for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other expenses that come with major injuries. Make sure to hire a lawyer who specializes in such cases no matter your location, whether it’s a Shelby, NC truck accident attorney, or a Florida truck accident lawyer. When hiring a lawyer, here are the qualities to look out for:

Experience

Experience is one of the most important qualities you should look for in a lawyer. This is because an inexperienced lawyer may not know all the rules about your type of case, making it more difficult to win. After all, it is time-consuming and frustrating to have to answer questions that they should already know.

Availability

You need a lawyer who can communicate and work with you. This may be difficult if the lawyer is not available when you need them or quickly responds to your emails or phone calls. So when hiring a truck accident lawyer, make sure they are readily available to answer any questions that may arise about your case.

Affordability

In some cases, truck drivers who get into accidents do not have much money to spare. In this case, you should look for a lawyer that offers affordable prices. This way, you can receive the best services possible without having to pay an arm and leg for them.

Contact Your Insurance Company

If you have insurance, be sure to contact your insurance company as soon as possible after the accident. This way you can get help with any expenses related to the truck accident. When you contact your insurance company, you should have the following information on hand:

The Other Driver’s Information

It is important to have the driver’s license number, insurance information, and other relevant data so that you can file a claim with their insurance company if necessary. If they refuse to give you this information at the scene of the accident, do not hesitate to call the police so that they can get the information from them.

The Police Report Number

The police report is essential when it comes to filing a claim with an insurance company. That is why you should ask for the number associated with your case before leaving the scene of the accident. If it is refused, file an official report with the police department.

Your Insurance Information

When speaking to your insurance company, it is important to be aware of what kind of policy you have. For example, if you are covered under collision coverage then you won’t need to pay anything out of pocket for property damage caused by the truck accident. However, if you have collision coverage, but don’t get it with rental reimbursement, then you may have to pay for a rental car out of pocket while your vehicle is being repaired by an auto body shop.

Being in a truck accident can be a very difficult and stressful experience. However, by following the steps listed above, you will be able to recover as best as possible from such a bitter experience and get the compensation you deserve. 

Krystal | Sunny Sweet Days
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