Mississippi residents know that they need to follow the rules of the road in order to avoid a trucking accident. Truck accidents can be extraordinarily devastating, so truck drivers and passenger car drivers need to do everything they can to avoid these incidents. Unfortunately, thousands of trucking accidents take place between cars and trucks or between trucks and trucks every year. If you are involved in a trucking accident, there are certain actions that you should take right away so that you can get things moving and taken care of quickly and smoothly as possible.
What should you do after a trucking accident?
The first thing you should always do is to call 911. Truck accidents can be very devastating. The full force of the truck can throw a car hundreds of yards. Even if it seems that no one is hurt, call 911 anyway so that everyone involved in the accident can be checked. Injuries sometimes show up later on.
The next thing you need to do is to make sure that you take as many pictures as possible. These pictures may not only show helpful information like where the cars were at the moment of impact, but they can also provide useful information for investigators and insurance companies. If you can, take pictures of the road, including objects like skid marks and any debris. This evidence will most likely be captured by the police, but it’d be helpful for you to have it as well so that nothing is missed.
If you’re able to take pictures of your injuries, you should do that too. You may think that it will be easy for you to remember where your car was or where the truck was, but the reality is that memories shift or fade over time, especially when something traumatic occurs. If there’s no proof of what you’re saying, it may be harder to prove your case.
Don’t talk about the accident with the other driver
In the excitement of the moment, many people say things that end up coming back to hurt them later on during an investigation. Repeatedly apologizing or explaining yourself to the other driver could be interpreted as you taking responsibility for the accident.
Who can you turn to if you’ve been involved in a trucking accident?
Drivers who’ve been involved in trucking accidents are understandably traumatized and may be unsure as to what to do next. You may benefit by working with attorneys with experience with these types of accidents as well as with the specific rules and regulations regarding truck driving.
