Steps to Take After a Truck Accident in Bloomington

What Are the Steps to Take After a Truck Accident?

After a truck accident, it’s important to take immediate steps to avoid mistakes and legal complications. Truck vs. car accident statistics show that in Illinois, there were 295,604 motor vehicle crashes in 2021, with 12,040 involving tractor-trailers and 9,261 involving single-unit trucks. Although these accidents make up a small percentage of all crashes, they can have severe consequences due to the size and weight of commercial vehicles. Between 2009 and 2019, truck crash fatalities saw a 48% rise. The year 2020 witnessed nearly 5,000 individuals losing their lives in truck accidents, averaging 14 fatalities per day, and 146,000 injuries. You should take the right steps immediately following a truck accident to ensure the best outcome for yourself.

Report the accident

Notify the appropriate parties after an accident. This may involve reaching out to local law enforcement and the trucking company. Dial 911 and inform the authorities about the incident. Any motor vehicle accident leading to property damage or injuries must be reported. In most situations, it is advisable to stay at the scene until the police arrive. Reporting the accident to law enforcement is vital as it allows a police officer to generate an official accident report, which can be valuable evidence and bolster your claim against the responsible party. Reporting the accident to the trucking company is also essential, as it may prompt the company to take further action to prevent similar accidents in the future.

Seek Medical Treatment

Seeking immediate medical attention from a healthcare professional is the first and most crucial step following a car accident. Trucking accidents often result in immediate and severe injuries, so it’s important to seek medical care promptly. Even seemingly minor accidents have the potential to result in delayed-onset injuries. Seeking medical attention after a trucking accident is vital to ensure proper treatment and the best chance of recovery from injuries.

If you didn’t receive medical treatment at the time of the accident, it’s important to do so as soon as possible. Some injuries, such as fractures or internal bleeding, may not be immediately obvious, so it’s essential to get checked out to prevent any undetected conditions from getting worse.

Seeking medical attention will also create a record of your injuries, which can help prove to the insurance company that you were harmed in the accident. Waiting too long to get treatment after your collision could lead the insurance company to claim that your injuries didn’t result from the accident.

Lastly, understanding the seriousness of your injuries and the full extent of your treatment will ensure that you request a fair settlement amount to cover your current and future medical needs.

Write Down Any Details You Can Remember

The aftermath of an accident can be overwhelming. You might not be fully aware of your surroundings due to shock or injury. After ensuring your safety and when things have settled, it’s important to record the damage to your vehicle and any injuries. Additionally, to make a detailed record of everything you can recall about the accident, such as:

• Road and weather conditions at the time of the accident
• Any witnesses who may have observed the accident or captured video footage
• Make, model, and color of the truck and other vehicles involved
• Details about the truck driver, their behavior, or any statements they made
• The precise time and location of the collision
• Other pertinent details about the scene, including lighting, signage, or traffic signals

Gather Evidence and Documentation

After an accident, although it is common to rely on the police and insurance companies to handle the investigation, collecting evidence at the accident scene is still a good practice. You can capture videos and photos to establish the position of each vehicle after the accident and to identify witnesses, passengers, and drivers. In addition, your images can help establish important details, such as road conditions at the time of the incident.

Taking notes is also beneficial. Making a record of security cameras in the area or any contributing factors to the crash is advisable. It’s crucial to jot down the name of the company that owns the truck involved in the accident and everything you recall that happened before the collision occurred.

It’s important to include the names of witnesses and their contact information in your notes so that you can get in touch with them later.

Create and maintain a personal file containing all important documents related to the accident and the resulting injuries. Some examples of documents and information that should be included in the file are the truck driver’s name and contact information, the trucking company’s name and contact information, the truck’s license plate number and vehicle identification number (VIN), the names and contact information of any witnesses, a copy of the police report, copies of any insurance policies, copies of your medical records and bills, and photos of the scene, injuries, and physical damage.

Save Your Accident-Related Bills and Receipts

If the accident was not your fault, you have the right to seek compensation for your medical expenses and other costs incurred. To ensure you can claim full damages to cover all your expenses, it is important to provide evidence of all accident-related costs to justify and quantify your damages. Collecting this documentation includes keeping receipts and records of out-of-pocket expenses, including:

• Documentation of medical expenses and records
• Receipts for vehicle repairs
• Receipts for vehicle replacement in the case of a total loss
• Expenses for medications and medical equipment
• Costs for medical travel
• Fees for rental car or other transportation expenses

Without the above information, you risk undervaluing your claim and settling for less than you are owed. A truck accident lawyer can assess your records to determine the value of your claim. Then, he or she can compile your evidence to substantiate your request for damages.

Inform Your Insurance Company

You should get in touch with your insurance company promptly after the incident and have all the specific details about what happened before, during, and after the accident ready for them. This involves getting and giving them any police reports filed so that fault for the accident can be determined definitively.

When speaking with your insurance company, it’s crucial to be cooperative and avoid exaggerating or providing false information. If the insurance company discovers any intentionally misrepresented information, it could result in denial of coverage for the accident. In most cases, it’s best to refer all communications with insurers to your attorney.

Contact a Truck Accident Attorney

Seek legal counsel from a truck accident lawyer. Your attorney will meet with you to discuss the details of your case, either in person or over the phone. Based on the information you provide, your attorney can offer valuable legal advice to help you understand your options. If your attorney takes on your case, he or she will conduct a thorough investigation to uncover important evidence. Additionally, your attorney will negotiate a fair settlement with the responsible party or his or her insurance company on your behalf.

When Should You Consult With a Legal Professional?

You should seek the assistance of a truck accident attorney as soon as possible after you’ve suffered harm from a truck accident. You may be wondering why you need a truck accident lawyer. In Illinois, those impacted by truck collisions may have the opportunity to pursue legal recourse for their losses. A skilled attorney can guide you through the process of filing a personal injury claim to secure fair and suitable compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial consequences of the incident.

Your truck accident lawyer will know how truck accident investigations work and have the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to handle all aspects of your truck accident case. He or she can offer valuable advice on the steps to take following a truck accident, understand the workings of truck accident investigations, gather and preserve evidence and witness testimony, negotiate with insurance firms and other involved parties, pursue claims or legal action, substantiate your losses and damages, and protect your rights.

If you’ve suffered injuries or damages in a truck accident, get in touch with Strong Law in Bloomington for a truck accident attorney who can help you pursue compensation.