What to Do After a Truck Accident With a Commercial Vehicle

Following an accident with a commercial truck, you’re likely walking away with severe injuries, horrible car damage, and legal claims with a lot of challenges. Because everything can be overwhelming and complicated, knowing the most critical commercial truck accident fatality injury steps to take after the dust has settled is essential. Following the correct procedures helps you protect your health and recovery, preserve critical evidence, and improve your chances of securing fair compensation. Knowing the proper steps for a commercial truck accident steps—like contacting emergency services, gathering witness information, and seeking immediate medical attention—can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case.

Step-by-Step: What to Do After a Commercial Truck Accident

After you’ve been in a commercial truck accident, you’re likely feeling very overwhelmed. Not only do you have adrenaline coursing through your veins, but it also prevents you from thinking clearly. Even after the adrenaline and shock have worn off, it can still be hard to figure out what to do next. Below is a step-by-step guide on what you should do to give yourself the best chance possible at a smooth recovery and an easy legal battle. Understanding truck accident facts and statistics can also provide you with insight into how common these incidents.

Make the Scene Safe

The first step should be to make the scene of the accident safe. Turn on your hazard lights so other drivers know your stopped vehicle. If you can, move your vehicle to the side of the road. Call 911 immediately and report the accident. Emergency vehicles will finish securing the scene and ensure the safety of other drivers around it.

Commercial trucks can be carrying cargo, which can add to the danger. Depending on the cargo, explosions could be dangerous, especially since both cars run on gasoline. If possible, avoid going near the truck and take care to prevent any additional injuries. Wait for emergency responders to determine whether or not the cargo contains hazardous materials and whether it’s safe to move around the accident scene.

Get Medical Attention Right Away

After any car crash, seeing a doctor and checking your injuries is essential, even if you feel fine. Injuries like whiplash and internal bleeding don’t always show symptoms right away, so for the sake of your health and overall well-being, it’s essential to have a doctor do a complete assessment and start treating all injuries right away.

Furthermore, it’s essential to have your injuries documented by a medical professional, regardless of the injury. This will be key evidence in your legal battle for compensation, so it’s not something you should avoid, even if you think your injuries are not that extensive.

Document the Accident

Medical evidence will prove critical in your case, but there is much more evidence you can gather as well to help support your claim. You should start collecting documentation such as:

• Photos of your car, the truck, debris, and road conditions
• Names and contact information of witnesses
• The truck driver’s name, employer, license plate number, and insurance details

A skilled truck accident attorney will help you gather evidence you cannot. However, the evidence present at the scene is just as critical to gather as what your attorney gathers after the fact. The more you can collect, the stronger your case will be.

Report the Accident

After you call 911, law enforcement will file a police report. This document will be additional evidence you can use in your case, so cooperate with the police. You will also want to contact your insurance provider and let them know of the incident. However, be careful not to give them more than simple facts, and don’t take a quick settlement. Speak to a lawyer before accepting any cash.

Why Truck Accident Response Steps Matter

Putting all the proper documentation in place is one of the best ways to protect yourself after a truck accident. In fact, having thorough documentation of the collision can mean the difference between recovering full and maximum compensation for your injuries and losses and being left with nothing. Following these steps is important because:

• Trucking Companies Act Quickly – Trucking companies have big insurance and legal teams on their side. Everyone involved will act quickly to dispose of evidence that could help support your claim. If you don’t follow these steps, you risk losing critical evidence for your claim.
• Proving Liability Matters – In a truck accident, there can be many layers of liability. Trucking companies, manufacturers, maintenance crews, and the driver can all play a part in liability. Having the proper documentation in place can help insurers and your lawyer determine who should be held accountable.

What Not to Do After a Commercial Truck Accident

There is a list of essential things to do after an accident, but on the other hand, there’s a list of things you should not do as well. This list is just as important to keep in mind. You should avoid these common mistakes:

• Don’t admit fault or apologize
• Don’t skip medical treatment
• Don’t delay contacting a truck accident attorney

Your doctor and your lawyer are your friends. Follow what they say to the best of your ability. When it comes to the truck driver, the trucking company, and the insurance companies, it’s critical to observe what you say. 

Please read more about accident insurance claims here: How a Lawyer Can Help You With Your Injury Insurance Claim

Contact a Truck Accident Attorney Right Away

Because of the many challenging facets of a commercial truck accident in Tennessee, it’s important to contact a lawyer as soon as possible. They can help you:

• Determine all liable pa/areas-we-serve/memphis-tn/truck-accident-lawyer/rties
• Preserve vital evidence
• Build a strong case
• Handle aggressive insurance companies
• Handle the legal battle

At Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC, we fight to hold negligent trucking companies accountable. Our team brings decades of experience handling these lawsuits in Tennessee with a proven track record of securing maximum compensation. We won’t charge you a dime unless we win your case, so you have nothing to lose. Let us protect your rights and help you move forward. Contact us today at (901) 526-2126 for a free consultation. We will fight hard so that you can focus on resting and recovering.