A truck accident in Miami or anywhere else can be a terrifying experience. It makes you worried about many things. No one wishes to get involved in an accident. But if you find yourself in one, you need to take steps that will ensure you protect your rights and interests. This article highlights those crucial steps.
- Ensure Everyone Is Safe And Unharmed
This is an essential first step to take even before any other steps. You should ensure that everyone at the accident scene, including you, is safe. Call emergency services for any injuries if needed, as well as your insurance companies (if applicable).
If you don’t have a cell phone handy or can’t get through on 911, dialing 411 is the next best thing. This will connect you to your local emergency services operator, who can send help in various situations, including traffic accidents.
If there are any animals involved, call animal control to know where these animals need to go for safety and care. That way, they’ll get the proper care and not be left to fend for themselves.
- Move Your Car Out Of Traffic’s Way
If you’re on the road with traffic and your car isn’t mangled, move it to the side of the lane. You don’t want it in front of other cars that are coming up behind you. If you’re off-road (e.g., driving down a dirt path), stay put until authorities tell you what to do next.
- Get Treatment
After the accident, you need to see a medical doctor as soon as possible. Ensure they know that your injuries are from an automobile crash involving a truck. It would be best if you also asked them for their opinion on your ability to continue working. If it is safe for you to do so, keep doing light physical activities such as walking and stretching exercises until instructed otherwise by a healthcare professional.
If there’s blood coming out of one or more parts of your body where no injury should be present such as nosebleeds, coughing up blood, or vomiting blood, go to the ER right away. Applying pressure to the wounded areas with a clean cloth or paper towel may also minimizing bleeding.
Move away from your clothes covered in blood (don’t worry about any on the ground). This will help prevent infection and keep anyone else safe if they come into contact with them.
- Note The Information Of The Other Parties Involved
Ask for the driver’s name, license plate number, and the insurance company. Write down any information you can about what happened in your accident – including what the other party said that caused them to crash into you. Get contact information from anyone else who was involved too. These may be witnesses, passengers, or even passersby on the street.
If possible, get photos of vehicle damage before repair. The more you know about what happened at the scene of the collision, the better you’ll get a fair shake when negotiating with an insurer.
- Call An Accident Attorney
Car accident claims and cases can be challenging to solve without the help of an attorney. The truck driver’s company will usually have a team of lawyers and attorneys on retainer whose job is to protect the interests of their employer.
When you call an attorney, they can help determine who was at fault for causing your wreck and what type of compensation you should be entitled to as a result. The process might take a while, but it will ultimately save you time in court if there are any disagreements about liability or anything else that comes up during litigation.
The Bottom Line
Truck accidents can be severe and dangerous. It is essential to take the necessary precautions to stay safe on the road, especially if you drive a car near heavy-duty trucks. If you’re involved in a truck accident, these tips can help you get compensated quickly.
