What to Do After a Truck or 18-Wheeler Accident
If you or a loved one were injured or tragically killed in an truck accident , it’s important to understand that time is not on your side.
The actions that you take following the crash will likely determine whether you and your family are able to recover the damages you deserve.
Trucking companies are known for “losing” or destroying critical evidence immediately after a crash. And each day that passes provides the trucking company and its team of lawyers more time to mysteriously “lose” the evidence that’s helpful to you and damaging to them.
What You Should Do After Every Truck or 18-Wheeler Accident
Call 911 Immediately
Contacting 911 after an 18-wheeler accident may seem obvious. But after an accident, especially one involving a truck or 18-wheeler, victims are shocked and filled with so much adrenaline that they often don’t recognize how injured they really are.
Injuries that may appear minor immediately after the accident can actually be the first signs of something more serious and, if untreated, get worse with time. That’s why it’s so important that you always get checked out by EMS or a doctor as soon after the crash as possible.
Something else that many people don’t realize is that truck drivers are often trained to blame the other driver, even when it’s clear that they were at fault.
When the police come to the scene, they’ll take statements from the truck driver, review the damage to the vehicles and other evidence at the scene, and create a written crash report that you’ll be able to use to refute the truck driver’s story and prove that he or she was at fault.
Take Pictures and Videos
If you’re physically (and safely) able to do so, take photos and video of
- The damage to the vehicles
- The roadway and any skid marks
- Stop signs, stop lights, or other traffic control signals or signs
- The lighting on the roadway
It’s easy to forget important details as time passes.
Your pictures and videos will provide objective evidence of the conditions that existed at the time of the crash and help you and your lawyer overcome the truck driver’s and trucking company’s attempt to avoid responsibility.
Collect as Much Information as Possible
Try to collect the following information before you leave the crash scene:
- Names and phone numbers of all drivers and witnesses
- The trucking company’s DOT number (which can be found on the driver’s door)
- The truck driver’s insurance carrier and policy number
- License Plate Numbers
Don’t Admit or Speculate About Fault
The crash scene is not the place to speculate on who or what caused the crash.
Even if you think you could be partially at fault, you should always hold off on making any statements until you’ve left the scene and talked to an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Regardless of who you believe was at fault, you should always notify your insurance company after the crash. Failing to do so can result in a detail of coverage and prevent you from receiving PIP, Med-Pay and other benefits that could otherwise be used to help cover your medical bills and other expenses.
When talking to your insurance company, stick to the facts, avoid speculating about who may have been at fault for the collision, and DO NOT provide a written or recorded statement.
Stick to the Facts and Don’t Provide Statements to the Trucking Company’s Insurance Carrier
You’ll usually receive a call from the trucking company’s “claims rep” or insurance adjuster shortly after the crash. They’ll pretend to be on your side and will often promise to do whatever they can to “make things right” or “take care of you.”
Don’t be fooled! The trucking company’s adjuster is NOT on your side.
Regardless of what they say or promise, their only priority is to avoid all responsibility by minimizing your injuries and blaming you for the crash.
Contact an Experienced 18-Wheeler Accident Attorney
Truck and 18-wheeler crashes are nothing like a car accident.
The injuries are typically far more severe, the potential verdicts and settlements are substantially larger, and the trucking company and its lawyers will do just about anything to prevent you from recovering your damages.
While almost all lawyers claim to be “truck accident lawyers,” there are very few who genuinely know what they’re doing, and even less who have taken a trucking company to trial.
In order to avoid costly mistakes and maximize your chances of recovering the damages you deserve, it’s CRITICAL that you hire an Experienced 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyer who regularly handles cases against large trucking companies and knows the tricks and tactics that the trucking company’s lawyers will use to try and avoid taking responsibility for your injuries.
Undefeated Truck Accident Lawyers with Billions Won for Our Clients. Call 1-888-603-3636 or Click Here for a Free Consultation
In addition to being Undefeated, our Truck Accident Lawyers have recovered the largest truck and 18-wheeler accident settlements and verdicts in the country for our clients and their families.
If you or a loved one were injured or tragically killed in a truck or 18-wheeler accident, call 1-888-603-3636, use the “chat” button on our homepage, or click here to send us a confidential email through our “Contact Us” form.
We’ll answer your questions, explain your rights, and provide you with the information you need to decide what’s best for you and your family.
To learn more about the success we’ve achieved for 18-wheeler accident victims, just review our “Results” page or Click Here to see what our clients have said about their experience with our firm.
All consultations are free, and because we work on a contingency fee, you won’t owe us a dime unless we win your case.
Call 1-888-603-3636 or click here to send us an email through our “Contact Us” form.
18-Wheeler Accident FAQ Videos and Client Testimonials
- What To Do After a Truck or 18-Wheeler Accident
- Why It’s Important to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer with Trial Experience
- 18-Wheeler Accident Victim Discusses $4.2 Million Verdict and Experience with Trucking Company
- 18-Wheeler Accident Victim Discusses Record-Setting Settlement with Oakley Trucking