No one wants to imagine themselves at the scene of an accident, but it’s not always avoidable. No matter how well you’re driving, you can’t control how others behave on the road, so important to be ready for the worst. If you’re involved in a truck accident, making sure you take the right actions can help to save a life, as well as handle the legal side of things correctly.
Assess the situation
First things first, following the accident you need to be sure not to panic. You need to be thinking as clearly as possible if you’re going to handle things properly. You need to make sure you’re okay, and try to figure out if the others involved in the accident are okay, too. Make sure not to make any sudden movements, and take things slowly. If you can’t move, then you’ll need to wait for help to come to you.
Emergency services
If you’re able to, you should make sure to call emergency services as soon as possible. While the situation might not seem so alarming at the moment, the sooner an ambulance arrives to help with the collision – the sooner you can make sure everyone is ok. Having the police arrive will also benefit the situation, as they can ensure everything is handled properly and legally.
Even if you feel fine following the accident, it’s important that you check in with a medical professional. Concussions won’t always show straight away, and you don’t want them to catch you off-guard. Get yourself checked and make sure you’re given the all-clear.
Speaking with potential witnesses
You’re going to need to prove your innocence in the accident at some point, which is why it’s important to make sure you’ve got a witness. Even if you weren’t in the wrong, there’s no guarantee that a court will see it that way. Having a witness provide a testimony can help to change things in your favor. Of course, it’s not always easy to do this, especially if you were injured in an accident.
Speak to an attorney
You’re going to need to prove how you were involved in the accident, and if there’s no clear cause, then you need legal help. Being in a trucking accident isn’t new for most injury attorneys, and they can help you to take all of the necessary steps in proving your innocence.
Not only do you stand a much better chance at winning your case, but you will also receive advice on not jeopardizing the results. Your attorney will give you full legal guidance, which you will need if you’re going to look your best in front of the court.
It would also help if you documented the accident as much as possible. Any evidence you have that could help you should be gathered as soon as possible. Dashcam footage, pictures of the accident, pictures of your truck – anything could prove useful, so don’t be afraid to take a lot of pictures.
