With over 150,000 truck accidents happening across the country in 2021 alone, it is vital to understand they are always possible. If you have come to harm in such an incident, you should ensure you get appropriate compensation for any truck accident injuries you receive. Though, what are the steps you should take to give yourself the highest likelihood of success?
Below, we run through everything you need to do, from the very moment the injury occurs all the way to receiving fair compensation. Use these as a checklist to ensure you do everything you can to get what you deserve.
Get to Safety and Seek Medical Treatment
If you have just had an accident, you must first escape any further danger. Remove yourself from the immediate vicinity and get off the road if possible. If emergency services are attending, follow their instructions to ensure you remain safe.
Make sure someone checks you for any harm. You may be hurt and not realize it, so when you get the chance, ask that someone tests you for a concussion or other forms of harm. If any injuries are obvious, make sure you receive first aid. Always remember that first aid can save lives, so it’s essential to get trained by experienced instructors and enroll at certified facilities like the First Aid training in London Ontario.
If you have smaller injuries that are visible, take photos of them as soon as you can. This can both help people diagnose issues as they progress, as well as give you evidence for future litigation.
Call the Police
If the emergency services are not already there, dial 911 and ask for police to attend the scene. It does not matter how large or small the incident is, if you do not call on them you may be breaking the law depending on where you are.
Contacting the police makes sure everyone stays safe. They are professionals at de-escalation and emergency response, so it is best to have them there.
The police must also record any details about an incident. As they are often seen as a neutral third party, this is very useful for any legal proceedings. Any court will see them as objective investigators who can provide expert testimony.
Document the Scene of the Incident
While you have a chance, make sure to record as much about the incident as you can. There are several things you might want to document to give you the clearest image of what occurred that day.
Take Photographs
Even after many months, photographs can remain as a permanent piece of evidence related to the incident that occurred. They empower you with indisputable facts about the day you can use later on.
As such, take as many photos as you can. This will include records of:
- The general state of your vehicle
- Close-ups of any damage to your vehicle
- The general state of any other vehicle
- Close-ups of damage to any other vehicle
- Overall photos of the scene
- Photographs of skidmarks
- Injuries to yourself
- The inside of your truck
- The inside of any other vehicle
There may be more you want to photograph, and do not feel shy. The more detail you have, the better.
Get Contact Information From All Participants
You will want to get records from everyone in attendance. You can use this to both send it to your insurance company and also to follow up with them later if necessary.
You should get information from those involved in the situation, as well as any good samaritans or witnesses. In incidents involving delivery vehicles, consulting with an Amazon truck accident lawyer can provide crucial guidance on navigating the complexities of such cases. Their expertise ensures you understand your legal rights and pursue appropriate compensation.
Record Any Police Information
A police report is a very useful piece of evidence in any ongoing litigation. You should try to get a record of it for your attorney to use.
The best way to go about this is to talk to the police officers at the scene of the incident and ask for some important information:
Incident number. This is a unique reference to the situation as it occurs. It may reference many different pieces of data, and so this number allows a legal professional to investigate it all further.
Police badges. The name and number of each police officer are available for anyone who asks for it. Of course, do not interrupt officials if they are conducting an investigation or working to de-escalate a situation.
Look For Other Evidence
If any physical evidence at the scene relates to the incident, try to photograph it if you can. You might also want to keep hold of any items that provide information about how bad the situation was so long as the police do not need them. If your personal possessions took any damage, try to take them with you so you can use them as evidence later.
It may be obvious, but you cannot take objects that are not yours. This is why photographing them is the best course of action. It allows you to refer to them later.
Seek Legal Aid
Once you have calmed down from the incident and obtained medical attention, it is time to look for a lawyer. They can offer guidance, protect your legal rights, and ensure you have the best chance of receiving compensation.
You will want to do this as early as possible, to avoid overshooting any statute of limitations.
Find Someone Experienced
Some lawyers are experienced in injuries related to vehicle incidents. A niche of these is those who involve themself with truck accidents specifically. They are the most likely to have the contacts, experience, and knowledge to give you the best chance of receiving compensation.
It is also very useful to check online reviews for the attorney’s reputation. You want to find someone who succeeds in these kinds of cases due to having the legal skill to do so.
Initial Consultation
One of the first things you will need to do is have an initial talk with the lawyer. You should take along all the evidence you have in digital or physical form. Make it as easy as possible for the attorney to go through what you have and form a conclusion.
Save Any Records For Later
As any legal action continues, you will want to ensure you have all of your records carefully organized and kept in a safe place. This could be in the cloud, in printed form, or on a hard drive you keep safe.
Do Not Skip Medical Appointments
Make sure to go to any appointments related to injuries you received in the incident. By skipping them, you suggest they are not serious. Make sure to also follow any treatment plan to the letter, so that you do not receive blame for any ongoing issues.
Keep a Copy of All Insurance Records
When you make an insurance claim related to the accident, make sure to keep records of everything said by all parties. If necessary, ask your attorney to make the claim for you to give you the best chance of receiving money for the injuries you received.
Keep Receipts For All Expenses
You should record all expenses related to your gathering evidence and claiming insurance. Keep invoices, receipts, and even travel tickets if possible. If the issue goes to court, you can often seek compensation for all of these.
Keep Your Data in a Safe Place
Make sure you do not lose anything you have saved. Photocopy or scan anything on paper and keep a copy separate from the main collection. Give any digitals to your attorney too.
Make sure that if you lose the data, you always have a way to find it again. The last thing you want is for you to lose all ability to prove your side of the story.
Get Expert Opinions
You may sometimes want to speak to an expert related to vehicle accident scenes, medical issues, or many other related topics. These are not always easy to find, but their input can have a huge impact on both insurance as well as any court proceedings. In most cases, though, your lawyer can do this for you, so discuss whether it is worth investigating with them.
Follow Your Attorney’s Advice
As the process continues, your lawyer will have good advice for you related to your next steps. This is the sign of a good attorney, as they will do everything in their power to ensure this situation goes as they expect.
They are experts in the field and will have experience in these kinds of incidents. Follow their advice to give you the best chance of seeing reparations.
Be Patient
The process of receiving compensation is not a simple one. This may take months, or even years in some cases, for you to receive what you deserve.
As such, do not give in. Express frustration if you must, but avoid doing so online where someone might choose to take your statements out of context.
Truck Accident Injuries are Complex
Now that you have read the above, you should be ready in case any truck accident injuries occur in the future. Still, the world of legal issues and money can become very complex. Lucky for you, we have a site dedicated to that.
Our articles help you understand the world of digital economics by sharing up-to-date information on the world of finances. It even includes news on different forms of compensation, including using cryptocurrency to pay such debts. So, check out our blog for more information.
