Large commercial vehicles utilize local roads and highways every day. However, due to their size and weight, collisions between trucks and passenger vehicles often result in severe injuries and property damage. This is particularly relevant in cases of semi truck accidents in Indianapolis, where the bustling city traffic can increase the likelihood of such incidents. If you or a loved one were involved in a truck wreck, it is essential to know the do’s and don’ts following an accident with a truck.
Don’t Wait to Seek Medical Attention
The first thing you should always do following an accident is seek medical attention. Often, people will think that they are not injured or that their injuries are not severe after an accident. However, the adrenaline from the incident can mask pain and symptoms of injuries. This is why it is essential to see a doctor and make sure that any injuries are addressed. If you wait to receive medical treatment for injuries related to the truck crash, it can be hard to demonstrate that the injuries are related to the accident. Seeking prompt treatment creates a medical record of the accident, which is needed if you choose to file a personal injury claim.
Don’t Admit Fault or Liability
When speaking with the other driver, witnesses, or the police, it is important not to admit fault or liability for the 18-wheeler accident. This includes avoiding apologies as this could be misconstrued as an admittance of guilt.
Don’t Post on Social Media
Posting about the accident on social media can influence your claim in a variety of ways. Certain comments could be read as an admission of fault and talking about the accident can negate confidentiality. Additionally, posting a lot on social media can also be used to say that you did not experience emotional distress or other damages related to your claim.
Do Gather Evidence at the Scene of The Accident
If the scene is safe and you are not injured, it’s important to gather information and evidence of the accident. You should take pictures of the damage to the vehicles from multiple angles, the road conditions, the scene of the accident, any injuries, the position it occurred, and the surrounding property. Documenting and gathering this evidence can help support your personal injury claim.
Do Call the Police and Obtain a Police Report
After being involved in an accident, it’s important to call 911. Law enforcement will create a police report that documents the truck accident and who the officer believes is liable for it. This could be valuable evidence in an ensuing civil claim.
Do Communicate with the Other Driver & Witnesses
You should get the name, address, driver’s license number, and contact information of the other driver after an accident. During this time, you should also collect information about the other driver’s insurance company and policy information. In addition, you should collect the contact information of any witnesses of the truck accident. These witnesses may be able to support your version of the event and help your case.
Do Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company
Whether or not you plan to file a civil claim, you want to report your accident to your own insurance company. But it is important that you only discuss the property damage done to your vehicle. Let your attorney handle all communications pertaining to your medical injuries and treatment status. This is to protect you in the event your case turns into a UM or UIM case, and the truck company did not hold active insurance coverage at the time of the accident. In such a case, the explanations and statements you provide to your own insurance company can sometimes be used against you if the case turns into a UM or UIM matter.
Do Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer Today
Truck accidents can be overwhelming and very complicated. A knowledgeable truck accident attorney in Indianapolis could help guide you through the details of filing a claim and what you should do following an accident. Our truck collision lawyers have decades of experience handling these complex cases and always begin working on the case immediately after our clients sign our attorney client agreement. For example, to preserve the condition of the vehicle in the moments preceding the collision, our attorneys usually file a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to prevent any person or representative associated with the truck companies’ insurance company or the truck company itself, from tampering with, or removing data stored in what is known as a black box. Our experts will work to download the brakes and mechanical components of the truck, as well as gather information pertaining to the speed of the truck in the moments preceding the crash. In short, this sort of investigation and type of collision is a nuanced area of law, and hiring your attorney quickly will ensure you protect the value of your case. Contact a member of our team today to give your case the prompt attention it deserves.
