You may have suffered serious and life-threatening injuries if you’ve been injured in a California trucking accident. You may face long hospitalizations, lengthy rehabilitation, and a lifetime of disability.
Sometimes, however, drivers are lucky enough to escape without grave injuries and can take a few steps to help them recover compensation later on. Knowing what to do after a truck accident can make all the difference when you’re pursuing compensation for your truck accident injuries.
In this article, the California truck accident lawyers at Wells Call Injury Lawyers go over the details about truck accidents and what you should do after a crash. If you have any questions, please contact us today.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
According to the Institute for Safer Trucking, the drivers of other vehicles accounted for 55% of the 5,032 truck-related deaths in 2019, and most accidents occurred when the vehicles were traveling at between 55 and 70 mph.
As these statistics show, most drivers who collide with a semi-truck on the highway do not fare well. Because of this, safety should be your top priority after a truck accident. Immediately after a truck accident, you should call 911. Next, pull your vehicle off the road and turn off the engine.
Under California law, a driver is required to move their car unless there is an injury or death. Plus, clearing the roadway decreases the chances of secondary accidents. By shutting off your engine, you minimize the likelihood of a fire breaking out. At this point, consider taking video or photos of the accident scene for your records.
After emergency personnel arrive at the scene, tell them what you recall leading up to the collision, but be careful about what you say. Provide factual answers to their questions, but don’t divulge unnecessary details or apologize.
The police will use your answers to create a police report, which the insurance carrier will rely on during their claims process.
When you have a free moment, create your own accident report. Your report should include the following information about the accident:
- Date and time,
- Location,
- Estimated speed of the vehicles,
- Road and weather conditions, and
- General description of the accident.
It might be tempting to post to social media about your accident but refrain from doing so. More often than not, the photos, videos, and messages you post online only hurt your case.
Is an Accident with a Semi-Truck Different from Other Accidents?
Most of the steps you should take after a truck accident are the same ones you should take after a passenger vehicle accident. However, there are other things to consider when an accident involves a semi-truck. Sometimes the driver owns their own truck, but sometimes another person or entity owns the truck.
And sometimes, truck accidents are caused by a manufacturing defect rather than the negligence of the driver or trucking company. Because California law allows you to sue more than one entity for a single accident, you could have a case against the driver, truck company, and manufacturer.
Either way, you will deal with a very aggressive insurance company when your claim involves a semi-truck. Their goal is to avoid paying out large settlements with these accidents, which is why it’s essential to have a personal injury attorney on your side who knows how to level the playing field when you are going up against trucking and insurance companies.
Contact a California Truck Accident Attorney Today
While you should gather information about your truck accident at the scene if you can, an experienced personal injury attorney will know how to thoroughly investigate the cause of your truck accident.
For over 40 years, Wells Call Injury Lawyers has helped semi-truck injury victims hold at-fault parties accountable for the harm they caused. We have helped our clients win over half a billion dollars in compensation, and can help you fight for the compensation you need and deserve.
Contact us today for a free consultation to find out more about how our truck accident lawyers can help you.