If you were hit by a semi-truck, there are a number of things you should do immediately following the accident. Ensuring your safety and seeking immediate medical treatment, if necessary, are essential.
If you’ve been hit by a truck in Mississippi or Arkansas, you should contact a trucking accident lawyer after completing the following steps.
Steps to Take Immediately After the Accident
Here are the things you should do immediately after an accident with a semi-truck.
Ensure Your Safety
The first thing you should do immediately after being hit by a truck is to ensure that you are safe. Often, these types of accidents occur on busy highways. It is essential that you make sure you are not in the flow of traffic and that all passengers are safe.
Call the Police
Next, you should call the police. A police report can be a key piece of evidence in a personal injury case, especially where you were not at fault. However, you should not make any statements to police officers or the truck driver regarding liability because the driver can use those statements against you.
Gather Information and Document Damages
After calling the police, you should get the truck driver’s information, including the name and contact information of the company the driver works for. Other information you should obtain includes:
- The driver’s insurance information,
- Their insurance policy number,
- The driver’s license information, and
- Information regarding the truck, including its license plate number and vehicle identification number (VIN).
You should also take photos of the accident scene, including the damages to your vehicle and the truck. If there were any eyewitnesses, you should get their contact information because their statements could support your case.
Seek Medical Treatment
You should next seek medical treatment for your injuries. However, depending on the severity of your injuries, you may need to go to the hospital or call an ambulance immediately after the accident. Make sure to document your injuries by obtaining medical records and statements from your doctor regarding the nature and severity of your injuries.
Contact Your Insurance Company
You should notify your insurance company of the accident even if you weren’t at fault. Your account of what happened is an important piece of information in establishing that the truck driver was at fault.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
Finally, you should contact a personal injury lawyer to help you get the compensation you deserve.
Establishing Fault
The truck driver and the trucking company are the most common parties at fault in truck accident cases where you were not at fault.
Truck Driver
In truck accident cases, victims can hold truck drivers liable for many reasons. Common situations where truck drivers can be at fault for causing an accident include:
- Intoxication,
- Speeding, and
- Driving while distracted.
To find out if you can hold a truck driver liable for causing your accident, speak with a trucking accident lawyer today.
Trucking Company
If the truck driver is an employee of a trucking company or other business, you can hold the employer liable if the truck driver was acting within the scope of their employment at the time of the accident. The trucking company may also be liable for their own actions, such as setting schedules that violate trucking regulations or not keeping their trucks properly maintained.
Learn How Harris Law Firm Can Help You
If you’ve been hit by a truck in Mississippi or Arkansas, our trucking accident attorneys at Harris Law firm will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
We understand the complexities involved in semi-truck accident cases and the effect a truck accident can have on your life. We’ll get to know you personally so we can represent you with your best interests in mind. Contact us today to schedule your free case review.
RATE THIS POST
Loading...