As if being in an accident isn’t bad enough, being in a truck accident injury adds extra complication. Therefore, it is important that you find out what you need to do as soon as possible after the accident.
There are several things you should do, but these four things are the most important for most people after a truck accident injury in Columbus. Not doing everything in the right way could lower your chances of getting compensation for your injuries.
Although you have a lot on your mind, there are several things that must happen immediately after a truck accident. Some of the most important steps you can take are going to include doing what you can to ensure a good outcome for yourself.
If you are uninjured, stop your vehicle in a safe place if possible. Blocking a busy road could lead to other accidents. Once you are certain you are safely out of the way, you should then contact the Columbus Police Department at (614) 645-4545 or by dialing 911 to ensure that help arrives on the scene quickly.
If you avoid serious injury, you should get the other driver’s information. This should include:
It may also be a good time to locate potential witnesses who have stopped to help. They may provide valid information about the accident if they talk to the police about what they saw. This can provide you with a better case when you attempt to seek compensation.
If you or anyone else that is involved in the accident is injured, medical care should be your next priority. Unless the injured person is in immediate danger, avoid moving them until the ambulance arrives.
This part is exceptionally important because getting medical help for injuries immediately after an accident is the only way to document injuries after an accident. Even if the injuries do not warrant a trip to the hospital, visit your primary care physician as soon as possible after the accident.
Just because the vehicles were removed, there are still things you may need to do. Mostly, they will revolve around trying to protect yourself from shouldering the burden of cost if you were not at fault for the accident.
If possible, take photographs of anything to do with your situation and the truck accident. This will include:
Above all, you will want to do your part to ensure that you do or say nothing that may be taken as an admission of guilt, especially if you were involved in a truck accident. One of the main reasons for this is that Ohio is an “At Fault” state.
What does it mean to you? In short, to ensure you get compensation to help you after an accident, you must prove that the other party was at fault in some way. This can be done by proving negligence or carelessness.
In 2020, there were 132 fatal accidents involving trucks in Ohio alone. This is not counting the many accidents that did not cause a fatality. Trucking companies are going to have insurance that protects them in the event of an accident. You must know how to protect yourself.
If you are unsure of what to do next, a personal injury accident attorney will help you. Our job is to help you establish a “cause” after a truck accident in Columbus. Therefore, we know what to look for, including:
Establishing these facts will be the only way for you to take the truck driver to civil court to seek compensation for your injuries, your vehicle, and your lost income.
For advice on what to do after a truck accident injury, you can contact us to discover what kind of case you may have. We offer free consultations to ensure that you fully understand that you should never attempt to go it alone.