Truck accidents are dramatic. A heavy big rig crashes into a lighter vehicle, usually causing massive property damage and serious injuries.
At Dennis & Winningham, we meet with many truck accident victims who were lucky to survive their crash. They report being in incredible pain immediately following a collision and often spend time in the hospital.
If you can move around after a crash, you should take certain steps to protect your legal rights. Call us to speak with a Chattanooga truck accident lawyer for more information or to get started with an injury claim. You deserve fair and full compensation.
What to Do After a Truck Accident
Do as many of these steps as possible. We realize some people are paralyzed or in excruciating pain and can only hope that a bystander picks up a phone and calls an ambulance. But if you can exit your vehicle, taking these steps can strengthen your injury claim:
- Call the police to report your accident. An officer can swing by and create an accident report. This report will have the essential facts about the crash: time, date, location, and names of all motorists. Use your cell phone or ask someone else to call.
- Ask if anyone needs an ambulance. Truck accidents can involve many vehicles. Ask any occupant if they need an ambulance, and call emergency services for them. Prioritizing health is key.
- Swap personal and insurance information with the trucker and other motorists. Share your name, license, address, and insurance. Get the same from all other drivers. Also, ask the trucker for the name of their employer.
- Photograph the scene. When it comes time to negotiate a settlement, the insurance companies have no idea what the scene looked like. Contemporaneous pictures are essential. Use your phone to get pictures of all the vehicles from multiple angles. You can also get closer to showing dents.
Also, photograph anything else at the scene that you think contributed to an accident. For example, your car could have hit some road debris, forcing you into the other lane, where you get hit. Use your phone to take pictures.
- Speak with any witnesses who stick around. Bystanders or other motorists could stop to offer assistance or simply wait to talk with the responding police officer. You can also speak to them. Ask for their name and what they saw. Your lawyer might talk to them later to find out what they remember.
- Avoid apologizing or admitting fault. Some motorists are tempted to immediately apologize to the trucker or other motorists. You should avoid saying things that sound like you are admitting fault. Tennessee’s comparative negligence law will minimize your compensation if you contributed in any way to a crash. And your own statements are admissible against you. We recommend staying professional. The less said about the accident or your actions, the better.
- Speak with the responding officer. The cop who comes will talk to all drivers. Share any suspicion you have that the trucker was fatigued or intoxicated. Was the driver having trouble staying awake? Yawning loudly? Did he smell of alcohol or marijuana? The responding officer can investigate, which will help your legal claim in the future.
- Visit the emergency room after finishing at the scene. You should immediately receive treatment. Even if you think you feel “fine,” you could be hurt. A doctor could order tests. Also, remember to go back to the hospital in the coming weeks if your condition worsens for any reason.
- Call your insurance company to open a claim. You can share the day, time, and location, as well as details about the other driver. Do not delve into what happened or your injuries. Now is not the time for that. Your insurance company can call the trucking company or its insurer to open a claim.
- Avoid answering questions in a recorded statement. In the coming weeks, the insurance companies might call you to talk about the accident. You should not give any statements that are recorded. This is a way they dig for information to use to show you were negligent and partially to blame.
- Do not accept a settlement offer. The insurer might make a quick proposal; turn it down. You can probably receive more if you negotiate.
- Turn off social media. Too many people post about their accidents on social media, like Facebook. Now is the time to turn off all social media accounts because you could accidentally post something that hurts your case. For example, don’t talk about your injuries or post pictures of yourself visiting friends or family. The other side could use this evidence to show you were not really hurt.
Schedule a Consultation Today
Dennis & Winningham works with many clients to build winning claims for compensation after a truck accident, especially in the 37411 zip code. We know how to find and preserve relevant evidence to use in your claim. Contact us today. We can discuss what to do after a semi truck accident in a free consultation with a Chattanooga truck accident lawyer.
