Sustaining an injury or property damage in an accident involving a large commercial truck can be a scary experience. If the crash was caused by the negligent actions of a truck driver, trucking company, or another party involved, you should be able to recover compensation for your losses. However, you need to know how to file a truck accident claim in order to successfully recover compensation through an insurance settlement or a personal injury lawsuit jury verdict.
1. Filing a Claim Starts With Reporting the Accident
It is absolutely crucial for any person involved in a truck accident to contact law enforcement officials. The police need to come to the scene so that they can conduct an initial investigation into the incident and gather every parties’ information. Insurance carriers are going to need the police accident report in order to process the claim.
2. Medical Assistance is Crucial
Recovering compensation for your injuries will be very difficult if you do not seek immediate medical assistance. It is crucial to be evaluated by a doctor after a truck accident, regardless of how minor you think your injuries may be. Let a doctor conduct an evaluation as soon as possible and continue all medical treatment until a doctor says you have reached maximum recovery.
3. You Need to Gather Evidence
In some cases, you may be able to gather evidence at the scene of the crash. We understand that this may not be possible, especially for more severe crashes or when individuals have to seek medical care. However, if you are able to do so, you should use a camera of some sort (usually a phone) to take photographs of vehicle damage, injuries, debris and skid marks, the name of the truck company, traffic and weather conditions, and more.
If there were any eyewitnesses to the crash, including drivers and passengers in other vehicles, get their names and contact information before the scene is cleared.
4. Contacting Your Insurance Carrier
You will have to report the truck crash to your insurance carrier as soon as possible. Insurance carriers typically have a very short deadline to report crashes, but you do not have to go into much detail with your initial report to the carrier. Just let your insurance carrier know that the crash occurred, that you are seeking medical assistance, and the name and insurance carrier information of the trucking company. Let your insurance carrier know that you are seeking legal assistance to help you with your claim, and do not field any calls from the truck driver/company’s insurance carrier.
5. Calling an Attorney Immediately
It is crucial for you to seek legal assistance from a Santa Ana truck accident lawyer immediately. An attorney can get involved and use their resources to begin gathering evidence as soon as possible. A lawyer will work to determine liability while also ensuring that you are evaluated by trusted medical and economic experts. A truck accident attorney can handle all communication and negotiations with the other parties involved, including the truck company, the insurance carrier, and any legal team. The goal is to ensure that you recover compensation for your medical bills, property damage losses, lost income, and payment suffering damages.
