Six Things You Must Remember if You're in a Truck Accident

by Kevin Duffan

Connect with Kevin

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Google+
• YouTube

Kevin is a Virginia injury attorney who handles car accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, etc.

If you're one of the hundreds of thousands of people involved in an accident with a big rig every year, there are some things you certainly must do if you want to recover a dime from the trucking company.

Contact the Authorities

The very first thing you must do is call 911. An ambulance should arrive on scene to make sure that no one is seriously injured or to give care to those who are. The police will also show up to take witness statements, gather evidence, and fill out a report about the crash.

See also these related Virginia truck wreck articles:
Truckers More Inclined to Rush During Holidays, Increases Risk of Truck Wrecks

Big Rig Truck Drivers and Life on the Highways

Do Not Admit Fault

You should never admit fault in an auto accident. Even if you feel that you are partly at fault, it is within your rights to keep from making any statement to the other driver. You should only give your contact and insurance information. This can be hard to remember when you're in an accident, but the rules of evidence generally permit anything that you say at the scene of the crash to be introduced against you at trial. The impact of your admissions can be so great on a jury that they outweigh all the other evidence.

Obtain Insurance Information

Be sure to get the other driver's name, driver's license number, insurance, and vehicle plate information. You should make a copy for yourself even if the police are on the scene filling out a report. Remember, even if everyone seems to be physically ok the day of the crash, there may be some injuries that have later onsets.

Check Your Car for Damages

One great tip is to keep a camera in your glovebox. If you have one, you should take pictures from all angles, remembering to get street signs and other landmarks in the shots. These photos can later be used at trial. If you don't have a camera, you should make careful notes about the damage you notice on your car.

See a Doctor

When you leave the scene of an accident, you should stop at a doctor's office or a hospital if you have any pain or discomfort. The longer you wait after an accident, the harder it will be to state a claim for personal injuries.

Call Your Insurance Company

You should let your insurance company know as soon as possible after the accident. Most insurance companies have complex rules about what you have to do after a crash. In addition to your phone call, you should send written notice. If you fail to do this, you might risk the insurance company denying any claim that you have because you waited too long. But don't talk to the trucker's insurance company under any circumstances. Let your lawyer handle any communications with the other company.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have experience handling truck wreck cases. Check out our truck accident case results and our free consumer guide on what to do if you get involved in an accident with a commercial truck.

We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Newport News, VA, if you've been seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been named to the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009 and included among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Jim and Rick have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of practicing lawyers receive this honor.

In addition, our VA injury law firm was the first in the commonwealth to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms, and we have the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization. The rating indicates we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer a free initial confidential consultations. Call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a message so we can get back to you.