Many people are unaware of what to do after a truck accident in Virginia. Failing to take the right steps could make it more challenging to seek full compensation for your injuries.
Report the accident
You should call 911 to report the accident, which will lead you either to the emergency line or the non-emergency line. The operator will send police to the scene to gather information about the accident. You should ask the police for a copy of the police report for your records.
Collect your own evidence
Don’t leave it just to the police to gather evidence of the crime scene. They might miss something. Take pictures of the damage to all vehicles involved, debris, marks on the ground, positioning of the vehicles involved and proof of weather conditions. You should gather the license, insurance and contact information from everyone involved as well.
If there are witnesses nearby, ask them to write down what they saw happen and sign the statement along with their contact information. Record your own account of what happened as soon as you can after the accident so that you don’t forget important details. Include what was going on leading up to the accident as well.
Large truck accidents commonly cause serious injuries for the person in the smaller car. If you’re in no condition to gather the information, you should have a family member or friend collect the evidence for you.
Get a medical checkup
Ideally, you should get a checkup right after the accident. Schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible if you don’t need emergency treatment. Personal injury cases examine whether the plaintiff acted promptly to seek medical care when determining how responsible they are for their injuries.
Taking the correct steps after a truck accident can help protect you. It’s important to have as much evidence of the accident scene as possible.