Even though you probably don’t see accidents often, that doesn’t mean they’ll never happen. There are over 6 million accidents on the road every year. You never know when one will happen to you.
There are some critical steps you need to take after getting into a truck accident. Read the five steps below to learn what to do if it happens to you.
- Check for Injuries
Before you take any other action after getting into a truck accident, the first thing to do is check everyone for injuries. Start with yourself and anyone else in your vehicle. Once you verify that everyone in your car is okay, head to the other vehicle to ensure nobody is hurt there.
If someone does suffer from an injury, make sure you call emergency services. Get them there as soon as possible so that any injuries don’t get worse.
- Call the Police
Once you verify that everyone is safe and have called emergency services for help, the next step is to get the police involved. They’ll provide the documentation that verifies your accident to the insurance company.
However, keep in mind that some police stations won’t send officers if the accident isn’t severe. You’ll still need to go to the police department to file a report if this happens.
- Document the Scene
One of the essential parts of the accident process is documentation. You can’t expect the insurance company to pay a claim if you don’t provide them the data they need.
Here are a few essential things you need to document at the scene:
- Drivers license of both drivers
- Pictures of damage
- Insurance information for each driver
- Any injuries suffered
- Copy of the police report
- Statements from witnesses
The more you can provide to the insurance company, the easier time you’ll have during the claim process.
- File Your Insurance Claim
Once you get your documentation and police report, it’s time to file a claim with the insurance company. Try to do this as soon as you leave the scene of the accident. You don’t want to wait too long to notify your insurance company of the accident.
Always tell your own insurance provider what happened, even if you aren’t at fault in the accident. Once you do, you can reach out to the other driver’s insurance company to file a claim with them if needed.
- Accept Your Settlement
It’s a waiting game after you file a claim with the insurance company. Ideally, it shouldn’t take too long to see a successful claim. However, insurance companies won’t always play ball and award you a settlement.
Finding good truck accident lawyers is a great way to help if this happens. A residential or commercial truck accident lawyer, Michael S. Lamonsoff will look through your case and help you navigate the appeal process to help you file a successful truck accident lawsuit.
Do Things Right After Your Truck Accident
While you won’t always have issues filing an insurance claim after your truck accident in most cases, that won’t always be the case. That’s why it’s vital to do things right after the accident. However, you’ll have a better chance of success if you follow all the standard best practices after getting into a truck accident.
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