The aftermath of a truck crash can be overwhelming and confusing. Immediately after the collision, you may be injured, confused, and even in shock. After the chaos of police, tow trucks and ambulances, there’s still a lot to process–and a lot to manage. It can be hard to think clearly in that situation, but what you do is important to both your health and your ability to recover fair compensation for your injuries.
The best source of information about your next steps after an accident will be an experienced Texas truck accident lawyer. This high-level overview of what to do after a truck crash is no substitute for specific advice about your case from a qualified attorney.
Next Steps after a Truck Wreck
Immediately After a Truck Crash
Right after the accident, you may be seriously injured. The very first thing you should do is assess yourself for injuries. You’ll want to get checked out by a professional as soon as you can, but you’ll need to make the initial determination about whether it would be safer to get out of the vehicle or it might be dangerous to move.
If you’re able, your next steps should be to call 911 and to check to see whether anyone else needs help. You’ll want to let the 911 operator know if anyone is seriously injured.
Then, if and only if you are well enough and able to do so safely:
- Exchange insurance information with the truck driver and any other drivers involved in the accident
- Take pictures or video of the scene, showing where the vehicles came to a stop, the damage to the vehicles, and wider views of the scene that show where the crash happened
- Ask any witnesses at the scene for their names and contact information, and if anyone has taken pictures or videos, get their contact information and ask them to send their photos or recordings to you and to keep the originals
- Look around for cameras such as traffic cams or street cams that may have recorded the collision or other evidence
- Let emergency responders check you out, even if you don’t think you’ve been seriously injured
If you’re clearly seriously injured, you’ll likely be transported to a hospital by ambulance. But, if your injuries appear to be less severe and you’re able to communicate clearly, you may be asked whether you want to go to the hospital. It’s generally best to err on the side of caution and let a medical professional assess you. Right after the accident you may be numbed by shock, or just not thinking clearly. You should also know that some injuries, including some types of spinal injuries and head injuries, worsen if not properly treated.
What To Do in the Days Following the Accident
After a serious motor vehicle accident, you’ll likely be exhausted, confused and in pain. You may just want to retreat to your home and be left alone. Resting and recovering is important, but there are some things you should know and do during this time.
Make Sure You Follow Up With Medical Care
Whether you went to the emergency room in an ambulance, stopped in to an urgent care or made an appointment with your own doctor, it’s important to stay on track with your medical care. If you miss follow-up appointments, don’t get the tests your doctor ordered, don’t follow medical restrictions or skip out on physical therapy, you may delay your recovery. In some cases, neglecting medical care can turn a temporary injury into a permanent one.
Neglecting medical care can also make it harder for you to get full compensation for your injuries. If you don’t get the care you need and follow your doctors’ orders, the insurance company will claim that you made your own injuries worse, so they aren’t responsible for all of your medical costs and other losses.
Avoid Engaging with the Trucker’s Insurance Company
If the truck driver was responsible for the accident, the insurance company will likely reach out to you right away. You’re not required to give them a statement, or even to answer the phone. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize this and think they need to cooperate with the insurance company immediately if they want to receive compensation.
The most important thing to remember about the insurance company is that they make profits by not paying you, or by paying you as little as possible. What’s good for them is not good for you. But their reps are well trained to lead you into making statements that could hurt your claim, taking passing comments out of context, and even persuading you to enter into a settlement agreement before you even know how serious your injuries may be.
The best way to deal with an insurance company is to hire an experienced truck accident lawyer and let them handle those interactions for you.
Avoid Talking about Your Accident or Posting in Social Media
Innocent comments or posts can come back to haunt you, due to minor inconsistencies or lack of context. It’s best not to discuss how your accident happened with anyone but your attorney and those working with your attorney on your case.
Hire a Texas Truck Accident Lawyer as Soon as Possible
The sooner you get a dedicated advocate in your corner, the better. The I Just Got Hit (Godsey Martin, P.C.) team works with accident victims every day, and we know how important it is that you have reliable information and guidance from the start. That’s why we offer free consultations to truck accident victims and others who have been injured through someone else’s negligence. Schedule yours right now, before you take any other action.
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