Being involved in any type of traffic incident can be startling. Whether you have been a victim of road rage or hit by another vehicle, the surge of adrenaline you will feel immediately following the incident can take hours to subside. You may be extremely upset, and not able to think clearly at all, which is why you should memorize the steps to take after such an event now, instead of trying to figure out how to deal with everything once you are on the scene.
While being hit by another car can be extremely traumatic (and of course, exponentially worse if you are on a motorcycle, bike, or traveling on foot), being hit by a larger vehicle such as a semi- or 18-wheeler can be catastrophic. If you are uninjured enough afterward to get your bearings, follow these five steps:
- Take a moment to catch your breath and assess your surroundings. If your vehicle is still functional and you can, move it out of the way of oncoming traffic. Many times, this may not be possible when a car or motorcycle has been hit by a large truck though.
- If you are injured, call for medical help right away, either literally or by dialing 911. Check on your passengers to see if they are hurt, and if you are able, it may be necessary to check on the other party too.
- Call law enforcement so that you can file a police report. This is vital to your case, along with getting required medical help as soon as possible. If you have been in an accident with a large truck, however, the resulting property and/or bodily damage may be so significant that there is no question about any of these things.
- If you are able, or if another person or friend or family member on the scene can, take pictures of everything possible. This should include photos of both vehicles, license plates, different angles of all property damage, photos of you and passengers and visible injuries, expansive photos of the traffic area, including street signs, lights, intersections, and everything that could be relevant to your case.
- Exchange all contact information possible with the other party. While their basic information will be in the police report, it is critical to obtain all insurance information. Also, were there witnesses on the scene? These individuals could be very important to your case, and if you do not speak to them at the scene and ask for their contact information, you may never have another chance.
If you have been injured in a truck accident due to the negligence of others, this is not the time to go it alone! Attorney Sgt. Pike has developed a system to combat the various forces in the trucking industry attempting to defeat the rights of those wrongfully injured or killed. Based on his training and experience as a Special Forces Operator (Army Green Beret), Attorney Sgt. Pike activates the Truck Accident Response Team or T.A.R.T. ™ immediately after being hired in appropriate cases. T.A.R.T. ™ then deploys to the area of the crash.
Please call the law offices of Andrew ‘Pike’ Piekalkiewicz, PLLC as soon as possible at (713) 748-7453 or visit AttorneySgtPike for a no obligation case review.
