There are more than five million car crashes in the US every year. What’s equally startling is that roughly 500,000 of those crashes involve collisions with semi trucks. Collisions with these commercial vehicles usually result in devastating damages due to their size and mass alone.
Before you get in your car today, familiarize yourself with these top three tips to follow when you get in an accident with a semi truck. Memorize these tips now and you’ll effectively manage this crisis in the event it happens.
Steps to Take After a Semi Truck Accident
If this kind of event happens to you, don’t forget to keep your cool. If you stay calm, you’ll be able to put the following steps in motion efficiently and effectively.
1. Pull Off The Road Immediately
Don’t try and drive away from an accident scene. It may look like you don’t have any significant damages. But you should stop so that you can assess whether you or the other driver has any injuries as well as any others involved in the same accident.
This is also your time to exchange your contact information with the truck driver or any witnesses who saw the accident. Ask for names, addresses, and telephone numbers from any witnesses or passengers involved with your accident. Ask the truck Demas Law Group for their company’s name, insurance policy number, and phone number for their company’s insurance company.
2. Schedule An Appointment With Your Doctor
If you received an injury from your accident, schedule a visit with your physician. Then you’ll have their diagnosis and prescribed treatments for your current or future injuries you might suffer later.
Sometimes pain or swelling appears after the event is over. This form of lingering injury is called a delayed-onset injury. If notice these lingering symptoms later, call your doctor again as soon as you can.
3. Call Your Insurance Provider
Call your insurance company as soon as you can after your car accident. Some insurance companies specialize in truck accident claims.
They may also refer you to a law office that specializes in representing truck accident victims. The professionals at Collins and Collins, for example, have extensive experience with the complex details that truck accident claims sometimes have.
Pay your insurance deductible. Then you can begin to repair your car. After you’ve paid the deductible, your insurance company will help you pursue the truck driver’s insurance company to get your deductible reimbursed.
Accident Details File
To stay organized, create an accident file that contains the evidence of your accident. Keep pictures of all vehicle damages (including damages to the truck.) Keep photos of your own injuries that you sustained from your accident.
If law enforcement arrived after your accident, they will generate an accident report if it looks like there were more than $1,000 in damages to one or more vehicles. Ask for copies of this report if you want to get reimbursed for repairs.
What’s Your Next Step?
If you were in a semi truck accident, just stay calm. Pull your car over to a safe place off the road and ask the truck driver for their employer’s information.
Create your own accident file, complete with law enforcement’s accident report and pictures that summarize what happened. Keep copies of your pain prescriptions and other medical records in this file as well. Don’t forget to check out our website for more quality insights related to news, lifestyle, and much more. We can help you stay safe when you’re on the road.
