What To Do If You Are Hit By A Truck
Being hit by a truck can be life-changing. Not only is your chance for serious injuries quite high, but severe damage to your car is likely. If you happen to sustain only a minor injury, here are some of the things that you should do:
- Do not leave the scene of the accident. Wait for the authorities.
- Do not move your vehicle, except if you are creating a traffic hazard. Valuable information might be lost if you do.
- Call the police yourself if you have a cell phone, or ask a bystander to call the police.
- Call 911 for an ambulance if other occupants of the vehicles are injured.
- When the police arrive, cooperate and give information when asked. Do not utter comments such as, “I was in a hurry,” or “the truck came out of nowhere,” etc. Comments will be reflected in the police report and increase the possibility of liability or fault.
- Do not talk with the trucking company’s insurance adjusters at the scene. Never give any statement in writing or sign anything without first retaining the services of a lawyer. Notify your insurance carrier about the truck accident. Have your own insurance information on hand and know what your policy is.
- Take pictures. Take photographs of your vehicle and of the truck. Capture the position of the two vehicles from various angles. These photographs can serve as evidence when you need to present your claims.
- Get information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses, etc., for all parties involved. Also, get drivers’ licenses and license plate numbers for all parties and vehicles involved. Get the insurance company name and policy numbers of the other driver, and also provide your information to the other driver. If possible, get names and all contact information for any and all eyewitnesses to the accident.
- Seek medical treatment. Even the most minor collision can result in severe injuries, which may require hospitalization, doctor visits, physical therapy, and even surgery. You may be left with high medical costs. Consult a licensed medical practitioner to document any injuries you sustained from the collision. Documentation of your injuries is extremely important to any case.
- Get a competent personal injury lawyer to help you with your claim. They help you file the claim and get the compensation you deserve. If it can be proven that the driver of the semi-truck was at fault, then you are going to be compensated fairly for your losses.
