Truck accidents can be traumatic experiences for motorists. Often when a large commercial truck weighing up to 80,000 pounds collides with a smaller passenger vehicle at highway speeds, the resulting damage can be shocking. Truck accidents often destroy cars, leaving motorist injured and the roadways full of debris. Often, truck accidents involve multiple vehicles and so the scene following the accident may be one of great confusion. People may be stuck in cars, hysterical, confused, and much more. However, following an accident is a time when you need to focus and make sure you take certain actions in order to help make sure you can later recover for your losses from the responsible party. It may be difficult to keep an even head, but the following checklist provided by a Coweta County truck accident attorney may help.
- Never leave the scene, even if you believe you may have been partially at fault in the accident.
- Call 911 and give as many details regarding the crash as possible. If anyone is injured, make sure they send an ambulance.
- If you are badly injured, seek immediate medical attention. Your health should be your first priority and, if possible, someone else may get the required information at the scene.
- Do not move anything. Leave all vehicles, debris, and items where they are until the scene is photographed in case accident reconstruction is later required.
- Do not admit any fault to the police or anyone else, even if you believe you may have contributed to the accident. Instead, allow your attorney to discuss this with police or insurance companies.
- Never talk to any other insurance company representative.
- Take notes of all party and witness information and license plate numbers involved in the accident.
- If you can, take as many detailed pictures of the scene as possible.
Finally, you should always contact an experienced truck accident lawyer at Shane Smith Law. Do not hesitate to call us at (980) 246-2656.