All road accidents can be quite traumatic events to witness or be involved in no matter how severe. If there is a truck involved in the accident, then the stress and trauma can be even more intense as large vehicles often come with higher risks. The expert’s attorneys at Bernheim Kelley Battista & Bliss, LLC exclaim knowing your to-do’s when you’re involved in a truck accident. You will need to make sure you know what to do on the scene and immediately after to ensure that everyone involved is safe and that you are following the right steps afterward. Here is everything you should know about truck accidents and what you can do to minimize damages and risks.
Head to Safety
The first step you will need to take when you find yourself stuck at the scene of a truck accident is to head to safety. If there is more than one vehicle involved in the crash then you should try to move, as well as anyone else involved to a safe spot on the side of the road where you can wait for emergency services to arrive. Once you are out of immediate danger, make sure you call the authorities and local emergency services so that someone can come to rescue you and assess the scene properly. Even if the accident does not seem too severe or if you do not think anyone is injured, it is still essential that officials are present to document the collision and help you figure out the following steps you should do.
Contact Attorney
Once you make sure you and everyone involved in the accident are safe, you should quickly contact an attorney. Truck accidents are unfortunately quite common in Indianapolis and a lot of the time, they are a result of drivers’ negligence. As indicated by the lawyers at Craig, Kelley & Faultless, if the cause of your accident is in fact negligence of any kind, then you will need to think about taking legal action for you to get compensated and get the driver at fault off the roads for good. To make sure your legal case goes through without any issues, you will need to contact an experienced attorney so that they can accompany you every step of the way and deal with all the legal paperwork on your behalf.
Stay Calm
One of the most important things you will need to do when you are involved in any kind of accident, especially a big one that involves a large vehicle like a truck, is to stay calm throughout. By staying calm, you will be able to think clearly and make logical decisions on the scene and afterward to ensure your safety, as well as that of everyone else’s. It is normal to feel a little overwhelmed immediately after a big accident but you should try your best to control your emotions until the shock and danger of the accident pass so that you can slowly and safely deal with the aftermath at your own pace.
Document Events
Before you leave the accident scene, you need to make sure you document every little detail as those details can work as solid evidence if you will be filing for a legal case. Make sure you take videos and pictures that showcase exactly what happened in the accident and how the events transpired as that can all help your case. It can also be a good idea to collect police and medical reports of the scene so that you can offer them as supporting evidence for insurance or legal actions.
Exchange Information
If there are numerous people involved in your truck accident, you need to exchange contact details with them, especially if you are planning to take legal action. Try to exchange information with any witnesses present when the accident happened as they can support your case and help you unravel the truth in court. Even if you do not want to pursue a legal case, exchanging information with witnesses and others involved in the accident can be beneficial if you will be filing for compensation claims from your insurance provider.
Accidents involving trucks can be pretty difficult and may leave those involved suffering from emotional and physical damages for a long time afterward. To minimize the suffering and any risks immediately after any accident, you need to know how to act on the scene and after you leave. Make sure you contact emergency services as soon as you can after the accident and try your best to stay calm throughout. Once you are safe, start thinking about filing for compensation claims or taking legal actions to get your full rights.