What to Do After a Truck Accident: 7 Things to Do

When a truck accident happens, here’s what you need to do to protect yourself and a potential claim for recover:

1. Get to safety.
2. Call the police.
3. Get medical attention.
4. Exchange driver and insurance information.
5. Take pictures.
6. Only report the facts.
7. Contact a lawyer.

7 Steps to Take After a Truck Wreck

Take as many of these steps as possible after a truck accident so you can safeguard your rights as you focus on recovering. If you can only take a couple of these steps, 3 and 7 are the most important.

Step 1: Get to Safety

Move to the sidewalk, the shoulder of the road, or any place that’s out of the way of traffic. If possible, help those who are injured get to safety too.

Step 2: Call the Police

Dial 911 in serious accidents or whenever someone has clearly been injured. For more minor accidents, call the local non-emergency police number. In Houston, that’s 1-866-445-5645.

Step 3: Get Medical Attention

Get checked out by emergency medical responders at the scene if you’ve been injured, and see a doctor after regardless of whether you think you’re hurt. You may not feel some injuries until days after a truck accident. Medical attention services two important purposes:

1. Improving outcomes: A doctor can diagnose and start treating injuries. That can minimize or prevent complications and lead to better prognoses.
2. Helping a future claim: Medical records will document diagnoses and treatments, establishing both the extent of the injuries and the treatment.

Step 4: Exchange Driver & Insurance Information

With other drivers involved in the crash, exchange:

• Names and contact information
• Driver-related information, including driver’s license numbers and auto insurance information
• Vehicle-related information, including the makes and models of all involved vehicles, as well as the license plate numbers and vehicle identification numbers (VINs) of all involved vehicles

Step 5: Take Pictures and Video.

Get photos and video of the:

• The involved vehicles
• The damage
• The surrounding features
• The accident scene as a whole

Pictures can establish the nature of the damage. They can also be helpful in determining and proving fault.

Step 6: Only Report the Facts

When talking to police, others at the scene, and insurance companies, only talk about the facts of the accident that you’re completely sure of. This can include:

• Where and when the accident happened
• Who was involved in the crash
• What occurred afterward

Never apologize or admit blame. If you don’t know something, it’s better to say that than to make an assumption or guess.

Step 7: Contact a Lawyer for a free consultation about your legal rights

An attorney can explain your rights and legal options while helping you take the right steps to:

• Initiate your claim
• Deal with insurance companies
• Set your case up for success and the maximum available recovery
• Protect your legal rights

Hurt in a Truck Accident? We Can Help

If you or someone you know has been hurt in a truck wreck, you can rely on an experienced truck accident attorney at the Amaro Law Firm for exceptional advocacy in the pursuit of justice and recovery.

Call 1-866-445-5645 or Contact Us for a Free, Confidential, No-Obligation Case Evaluation

At the Amaro Law Firm, we’re proud to be allies and advocates for those injured in truck accidents – and we don’t just promise results for trucking accident victims. We have a long track record of delivering the maximum compensation possible, and we always strive to get our clients the highest recoveries available. While compensation cannot reverse the damage caused by serious wrecks, we know that the recoveries from truck accident cases can help restore lives. The Amaro Law Firm’s long-standing record of success and exceptional advocacy in truck accident cases has earned us 5-star ratings on Google and Facebook, excellent reviews, and a 10 rating on Avvo.