What to Do Immediately After an Auto Accident Involving a Commercial Truck

Bill Allen | September 26, 2018 | Gainesville Personal Injury Law News

Being in any type of auto accident can result in endless headaches and unnecessary stress. However, if you were injured in a motor vehicle accident involving a commercial truck, you could be experiencing much more than headaches. If your accident was a result of commercial truck negligence or general misconduct and you were injured, then you could potentially receive compensation. There are many steps to take after getting involved in a commercial truck accident which is outlined below.

1. Get Medical Attention

Even if you feel fine or don’t want to make anything a big deal, you should seek medical attention as soon as you’re able. An astounding 3 million people are injured in car accidents each year in the United States, and an injury resulting from commercial truck negligence can be very severe. Many symptoms of injury may not present themselves right away and you could experience them much later on. It’s also a good idea to receive medical attention quickly for the sake of your insurance accident claim. Many insurance companies may doubt your claim or the severity of it if your injuries weren’t sufficient enough to require medical treatment. Even if it’s something mild such as bruising, you should have a doctor confirm its existence and that it was caused by the accident.

2.  Don’t Leave the Scene

Probably not news to anyone, but you should never leave the scene of an accident until properly instructed by reporting authorities such as first responders or police. If you do leave the scene, even if you weren’t at fault, you could be subject to legal action. It’s important to remain at the scene and follow all procedures to ensure a smooth process.

3. Move Off of the Road and Call the Police

If you’re able to drive your car after the accident, move it off of the road. Leaving your vehicle in the path of oncoming traffic could cause more damage and injury. If you aren’t able to move your car, do your best to make a clear path for traffic and warn oncoming drivers of the obstacle. A roadside emergency kit would come in handy in a situation such as this one. You should then call 9-1-1 to report the accident, especially if there has been resulting injury or death. The officers will write the report and determine who is at fault, as well as take witness’ statements. These can be effective evidence in receiving compensation for your personal injury case and you can request a copy of all of these documents.

You should treat your accident with the severity that it calls for, especially in the case of personal injury or wrongful death. Accidents resulting from commercial truck negligence can be extremely severe and you should contact a personal injury attorney.

Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in North Central Florida

If you need legal assistance, contact the Gainesville personal injury lawyers at Allen Law Firm at your nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.

We have two convenient locations in North Central Florida:

Allen Law Firm, P.A. – Gainesville office
2550 SW 76th St #150
Gainesville, FL 32608
(877) 255-3652

Allen Law Firm, P.A. – Ocala Office
112 S Pine Ave
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 351-3258