Every year there are almost 500,000 accidents involving big trucks on the roads. Truck drivers are in a unique position while driving on the road and are more at risk after an accident.
The time immediately after an accident is crucial to making sure everything gets dealt with properly to minimize serious consequences.
Follow our guide for what to do after a truck accident to make sure all of your bases are covered.
- Stop and Stay Calm
The first step in post truck accident procedures is to stop and get to as safe of a spot as possible.
If you can get completely off of the road. that’s the best option. But as far over as possible is good too. You just want to make sure that there’s as little chance of another accident as possible.
It’s also important to put on your hazard lights to help oncoming traffic see you and take the proper precautions as well.
As you’re moving over and getting to a safe spot, it’s natural to start to panic. You’ll likely be experiencing a lot of adrenaline and that can cause some major emotions. Do your best to stay calm to make sure you can logically handle everything correctly.
- Check on Others Involved
Auto accidents come in all different levels of severity, ranging from very minor to extremely serious. It’s not always easy to tell how the others involved will be immediately following the crash.
If the accident was serious, other passengers may need immediate attention from medical professionals.
After you’ve assessed yourself, and if you’re able, check on your passengers to see if there’s any immediate danger. Then move onto the other vehicles to assess the damage.
You shouldn’t discuss the crash just yet but ask if anyone needs an ambulance. If so, call 911 as soon as possible to get help quickly. Any delays can be very dangerous.
- Report to Necessary Agencies
Once you’ve made sure everyone is safe and any immediate emergencies are taken care of, it’s time to report the accident.
The first place you should call is the police department or highway patrol. They will dispatch officers to help you mitigate the situation and create an accident report. It’s important to call the authorities to make sure things are done correctly.
Calling law enforcement will help keep things calm and orderly, it’s also required by most insurance agencies.
The company you drive for will likely have specific policies in place for reporting accidents to their legal team as well. You’ll want to handle that as soon as possible to get the necessary procedures started and to avoid missing any critical steps.
- Request Copy of Accident Report
Before you leave the scene of the accident (once the officers let you know that’s appropriate), you need to request a copy of the accident report they’ve filled out.
This report will contain all of the pertinent information that your company and the insurance will need to fill out a claim properly. It includes the approximate time of the crash, the exact location, information of those involved, and a summary of the accident itself.
Getting this report is the best way to have accurate, verified information regarding the crash. If the crash leads to further legal action, having this report is critical to a fair case.
Again, don’t leave the accident scene without requesting a copy of the accident report.
- Get a Medical Examination
It’s very rare for someone who’s involved in an accident to walk away without any injuries. At the very least, most experience bruising or soreness as a result of the direct impact.
The most common injuries from an auto accident include cuts, broken bones, and head injuries.
Some of these require immediate attention for safety and to prevent further issues. Some injuries can be seen later after other issues are handled. But it’s important to always been seen by a medical professional.
Even if you don’t think you received any damage during the crash, you could have hidden ailments that need treatment.
A doctor can also give you advice on how to move forward towards the quickest recovery possible.
- Exchange Insurance Information
After all of the immediate needs are handled, it’s time to exchange information with the other drivers involved in the accident.
If you research “what should I do after a truck accident”, you’ll see that it’s absolutely necessary to get the contact and insurance information from the others involved before leaving the scene (unless you need emergent medical care).
Unfortunately, accidents aren’t over once you leave. It takes a long time to get everything sorted out and repaired.
You need to have a way to contact the others involved just in case there is a need down the road. This could include if your insurance needs to speak with them or if you end up having a lawsuit on your hands.
- Find Witnesses
If you think there’s a possibility that there could be questions from the authorities or insurance agencies about what actually happened in the accident, it’s helpful to get contact information from witnesses as well.
You could also take a brief statement from them about what they saw to help corroborate stories.
But those won’t be official, so the most important thing is to get the contact information so someone with the right authority can get a statement on the record.
When an accident ends up in court to get one party to pay for damages, third party witnesses can be critical to getting an accurate picture. You likely won’t have a chance to get this information down the road, so do it before they or you leave.
- Take Pictures of Damage
In order to collect as much information about the accident as possible, you should take pictures of the scene.
The obvious focus of the pictures should be the vehicles. You should include shots of the damage done to all of the cars involved. But you should also make sure to get pictures of the placement of them as well.
If you can get good shots of the area, it could help to solidify (or disprove) any accounts that are told of the accident.
Pictures will help any investigators get a clear view of what happened and who is at fault.
- Contact an Attorney
Unfortunately, accidents (especially those involving trucks) can result in lawsuits and legal issues. Because of this, it’s good to find legal help from the very beginning.
This is true even if your company offers to give you legal coverage. You should still consult your own lawyer to make sure that your best interests are being taken care of and not traded for others.
Legal counsel can help you in your interactions with the others involved, insurance agencies, and even the police.
These situations are often very stressful and overwhelming. Having someone on the outside available to give advice and counsel can make a huge difference in the overall outcome.
Don’t get caught in a sticky situation without the help of a trained, professional lawyer.
- Set up Repairs and Appraisal
Chances are if you’re driving a truck it’s your job and livelihood. It’s also likely that you can’t just take an unlimited amount of time off while it gets fixed.
As soon as you can after the accident, you should work to set up an appraisal and consultation for the repairs that are needed. This is also important for the insurance company to know what they’re dealing with as well.
Many insurances will have specific mechanics they’d like you to work with, so many sure you’re going to an approved location.
The sooner that you get your vehicle into the shop, the sooner you can get back on the road and back to making money.
- Be Careful
The time after a trucking accident is a very sensitive one but it’s also a very crucial time for what will happen after. You need to be very careful about what you say and do in the time immediately following.
Many people are quick to be kind and apologize for the accident, taking responsibility for what happened.
This is a big mistake and can cost you a lot in the long run. There’s no need to lie or falsify what happened, but it’s also not necessary to take the full responsibility right way without having the full picture and all of the information.
In your interactions with the other drivers, insurance agents, and law enforcement you should always be kind and courteous. But also stand your ground and be confident.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
Accidents are always unexpected and can throw you off balance as quickly as they happen. It’s important to have a plan in place long before anything happens.
When you know what to do after a truck accident, you can stay calm and get everything done that you need to. You won’t have to worry that you said the wrong thing or forgot to handle something.
If you’re interested in more legal tips and tricks, check out our other articles today!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.