What Should I Do at the Scene of a Truck Accident?

You may be confused in the aftermath of a serious truck accident. However, knowing what you should do at the scene of a truck accident can greatly help you down the road. It is possible to gather evidence and obtain information that will help your claim. After an accident, you should contact the Wisconsin truck accident lawyers at Studinski Law, LLC as soon as possible. Call us at (715) 343-2850 to discuss your rights and options.

Get to Safety After a Truck Accident

Immediately following a truck accident, you must consider whether you are capable of safely leaving the vehicle. If your injuries look severe, you should not move. In this situation, wait until paramedics arrive and can help you. If you feel physically able to leave the vehicle and believe you can get to a safe spot, do so.

You will need to take into consideration the surrounding traffic and environment before getting out of the vehicle. After a truck accident, your vehicle may be horizontal in your lane or facing oncoming traffic. Do not leave your car until you are confident you can do so without injuring yourself further. Once you leave your vehicle, move to a safe area as quickly as possible. If there is a guardrail, stand behind it.

Seek Medical Attention

If you are hurt, do not hesitate to call 911 or to ask a passenger or witness to do so. If you need medical help, you should obtain it as soon as possible. Truck accidents often lead to significant injuries. By receiving medical attention quickly, you may reduce the risk of additional or more severe injuries. You also begin to document the consequences of the crash right away, which can be crucial when you are attempting to prove your physical and psychological injuries during a personal injury claim.

Contact the Police

Whether you remain in the vehicle or leave it and move to the side of the road, contact the police. After being involved in an accident with a commercial truck, you want to have an official police report. You will want the police to speak with the truck driver and other witnesses. This will help you better understand why the wreck occurred. The reports generated by law enforcement may be helpful for your future insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. If the police ticket the trucker for a moving violation or arrest him for intoxicated driving, you will want documentation to present with your claim as you seek to recover compensation in the future.

Exchange Information with Other Drivers

As long as you and the trucker are capable of doing so, you should exchange information. Even if you believe you may have been partially at fault for the crash, do not take any responsibility. Do not apologize. Fault for the accident will be determined later. Right now, you simply need a polite conversation to exchange:

• Names
• Personal contact information, including phone number and address
• Driver’s license numbers
• Commercial driver’s license type and endorsements
• License plate numbers
• The trucking company’s name and contact information
• Auto insurance providers and policy numbers

Take Photos and Video

It is helpful to gather as much information as possible as soon after a truck wreck as possible. While calling 911 is for your safety and care, it will also begin to build a record of the event and the injuries. To gather additional evidence of what went wrong and your injuries, you or your passengers should take as many photos and videos of the crash scene as possible.

Take photos of all of the damaged vehicles from different angles and distances. Photograph where the accident occurred, including any street signs or mile markers. You should also document the surrounding area that may contain signs of the accident or damage, such as skid marks on the pavement or damaged fences or rails.

Additionally, even if you receive medical attention, it can be helpful for later on to take photos of your injuries. You can continue to do this as well. Take photos of your injuries every day or every few days to demonstrate how they look and impact you overtime.

Contact Our Truck Accident Lawyers

Once you get through the accident and its immediate aftermath, you must begin to think about how you will recover the compensation you need and deserve. Although you may need more time to recover, you should begin working with a lawyer as soon as possible. By contacting us at Studinski Law, LLC right away, you will have an attorney who can immediately begin to investigate the crash and preserve crucial evidence. This can be essential in building a case against the negligent party and protecting your right to receive maximum compensation for your injuries. Call us today at (715) 343-2850 to schedule an appointment.