A trucking accident can be quite traumatic. Due to the size difference between a large commercial truck and a typical passenger car, trucking accidents often result in serious injuries. In fact, 11 people die each day in the United States due to a trucking accident. In addition, large commercial trucks cause about 100,000 injuries and 4,000 deaths each year.
Still, as an accident victim, if you plan to pursue compensation for your injuries, it is important to protect the validity of your trucking accident case. If you are not incapacitated by your injuries, there are some protective measures that you can take while still at the scene of a trucking accident. Here are a few of them:
Photograph the scene.
When a trucking accident occurs, you may not think of taking pictures of the scene. However, photographs of the accident scene can help show that the trucker was at fault in the incident.
Photos should display the extent of the damages that were suffered by each vehicle. They should also show the
Obtain names and phone numbers.
In many cases, a trucking accident is witnessed by other people. It is important to obtain the names and phone numbers of potential witnesses. Their accounts are usually unbiased and can help validate the details that you remember concerning the incident.
Get medical care if you are injured.
If you are injured during the accident, don't refuse medical treatment. It is best to have emergency personnel examine you for injuries. Sometimes, you may not even realize how serious an injury is until much later. Thus, it is best to have professional medical workers assess your physical state as soon as possible.
If the emergency personnel believe that you need more care than they are able to provide at the accident scene, you will be transported to a nearby hospital. Obtaining medical care promptly is important, because associated medical reports will display the types of injuries that you incurred and how serious they are
If you have been injured in a trucking accident, schedule a consultation with a trucking accident lawyer as soon as possible.