What Should I Do After a Truck Accident?
Being involved in any type of vehicle accident or traffic accident is scary; however, being in an accident with a 18-wheeler or commercial truck can have life altering consequences. Commercial trucks can cause catastrophic damage when they crash. Knowing what to do after you or a loved one has been in a commercial truck accident is vital to take proper care and protect your interests.
After being involved in a commercial truck accident, you will likely be scared or worried about what the next steps you should take are following your accident. Your health and your financial interests require you follow these rules for protecting your interests and insuring the responsible party covers. Your current and future expenses, medical bills, and damages.
Your actions immediately after a semi-truck accident or commercial truck accident will greatly impact your chances of avoiding out of pocket expenses and requiring the maximum compensation for your damages and the impact the truck accident has had on your life and your family.
- First, Contact law enforcement at the scene of your commercial truck accident. Once you reach out to police, by calling the local station or 911, an officer should arrive at the scene to complete an accident report. The accident report will be available to you and your commercial truck accident lawyer at a later time and will help you build your case for compensation in your commercial truck injury claim.
- Second, have a doctor examine you, even if you do not feel any pain or injury. This step comes later chronologically; however, it is the most important step. Following any car accident, especially a commercial truck accident, you must seek medical attention. Some injuries, such as whiplash, herniated discs, and torn ligaments, will not be detected or present any pain for days or weeks. Not only are you missing precious time to have your injuries evaluated and treated, you’re also failing to properly document your injuries. Insurance companies that agree or fight you on compensation for your injuries after a car accident, require documentation of your injuries, if you want to reach a settlement without filing a personal injury lawsuit. You must show a connection or causal link between your injuries and the commercial truck accident, in order to receive compensation from insurance companies without a commercial truck lawsuit.
- Third, , take photos at the accident scene, if you are physically able. Otherwise, if possible have a witness or loved one take photographs. It is important to capture the following, at the least, following a commercial truck accident: photos of your vehicle; photos of the truck, semi-truck, or 18-wheeler; the scene of your commercial truck accident, and your injuries after the commercial truck accident. Ask the police officer creating the accident report to take photographs of the truck accident as well.
- Forth, gather as much information as possible. Knowledge is power, which holds true in commercial truck accident claims or litigation. You need to gather as much information as possible to support your truck accident claim. You should gather the truck driver’s name, address, driver’s license number, and insurance information. You need to collect the commercial truck company’s information, including: DOT number for the commercial truck and trailer, license plate, and insurance information, if separate from the commercial truck driver. Additionally, you should collect names, contact information, and brief statements from witnesses at the scene of your commercial truck accident.
- Finally, get an appraisal done as soon as possible and before repairs are performed. The repair costs to your vehicle following a commercial truck accident will help to support your truck accident claim.
How to help your Commercial Truck Accident Claim?
This brief synopsis is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to documenting and handling a commercial truck accident claim. It is important to seek the assistance of an experienced Oklahoma commercial truck accident attorney, if you or a loved one were involved in a commercial truck accident.
Seeking the assistance of an Oklahoma truck accident lawyer is to your benefit, even if you believe you were at fault for the accident. There are many regulations, parties, and factors for fault determinations in commercial truck accidents. Oklahoma is a fault-state, which means you cannot be responsible for the accident and recover damages. Therefore, seeking the assistance of a Fierce Advocate can help you protect your interests and insulated you for paying for medical bills and costs that you should not be responsible for after a truck accident in Oklahoma.
Commercial Trucking Companies either have experienced truck accident defense attorneys on staff or will retain experienced truck accident lawyers to help defend them from your liability claim. Experienced Oklahoma truck accident attorneys will take the steps necessary to investigation your truck accident, gather evidence, and communicate with the insurance company or truck accident defense attorney to protect your interests and claims for compensation.
Contact – Cannon & Associates: Oklahoma Truck Accident Lawyers
Experience matters when you or a loved one has been injured or died as a result of the negligence of someone in a commercial truck accident in Oklahoma. It is important to know the Oklahoma truck accident attorney you hire is dedicated to your cause and versed in all aspects of commercial truck accident law and personal injury law in Oklahoma. Cannon & Associates is dedicated to Fierce Advocacy for commercial truck accident victims and will fight for you. Founder John Cannon has been recognized as a Super Lawyer and Top 40 under 40 attorney. Contact Cannon & Associates to protect your rights and fight to receive the compensation you need and deserve in your truck accident case in Oklahoma. Complete the CONTACT FORM ON THIS PAGE NOW or CALL at (405) 906-4051 for a free confidential case evaluation.
