Being in an accident can be a stressful and terrifying experience, and when a truck is involved, it can be even worse. Given their weight and size, lots of damage can be done, so you may feel overwhelmed and unsure of what you should do next.
To make things a little easier, we’ve put together some of the steps you should take if you’ve been involved in a collision with a truck.
Check for any injuries
The impact a truck can have on a vehicle can be huge, so it is common for those involved to suffer injury from the impact. If you think you have been injured in any way, do not leave your vehicle. Wait for the first responders to arrive and try to stay as calm as possible.
If you don’t appear to have any broken bones or debilitating injuries, safely exit your vehicle. Trucks hold lots of fuel which can pose a fire risk following an impact, so if possible, remove yourself and stay on the periphery of the accident. It’s important not to leave the scene entirely as this can be classed as a chargeable offense.
Once at a safe distance, ring the police and wait for them to arrive. If you feel at all unwell, ask someone for help.
Take witness details
Assuming it’s safe to do so, have a chat with any witnesses and ask for their details. The police and your insurance company may need to speak with them to establish what they saw and what they believe happened.
If you can, it’s a good idea to take photographs of the scene and note the license plate information of any vehicles that were involved.
Contact your insurance company and a lawyer
If you have been badly injured, it’s worth speaking to a firm of truck accident lawyers who specialize in pursuing claims of this nature. You may be entitled to compensation for various things including injury, stress, and loss of earnings.
You should also contact your insurance company, who will put together a full report and contact the other party’s insurance in the event of a claim being necessary.
Take your time
You may be quite shaken up following the collision, so it’s important to give yourself time before trying to get back to normal. If necessary, speak to your employers to discuss having time off and ask your doctor to sign you off if needed.
You may feel stressed out or distressed for a while following the accident, so be sure to ask friends and family for help if you feel that you need to offload. You have been in a traumatic situation, so it is important not to keep things bottled up.
Although you may not want to drive, you should try and get back behind the wheel once you feel better. The longer you leave it, the more of an issue it could become.
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