Accidents involving semi-trucks produce devastating damage and injuries in the blink of an eye. The sheer chaos of these events often leaves victims in a state of confusion, unsure of what actions to take. By reviewing what to do after a truck accident in Florida, you can feel more prepared and potentially improve your case outcomes.
1. Call Emergency Services ASAP
It is rare that a truck accident does not produce at least minor injuries and damage. Your first order of business should be to call 911 and request police and medical attention.
Police officers will arrive at the scene, ensure the safety of all parties involved, reroute traffic around the accident, and create a police report describing what happened. This report may prove vital in your insurance claim or lawsuit.
Meanwhile, EMTs will provide medical attention and transport injured parties to the hospital.
2. Collect Evidence at the Scene
The next step after a truck accident in Florida involves evidence collection. If you are physically able to, taking photos and videos of the accident scene will prove helpful during the compensation process.
Valuable evidence will become lost after you leave the scene. By documenting it now, you preserve key evidence showing the truck driver’s negligence and paint a picture of how the accident happened.
Take as many photos and videos as you can of all vehicles involved, their placement, and the damage they sustained. If you are injured or cannot safely leave your vehicle, ask an officer or bystander to take photos for you.
If anyone witnessed the accident, write down their contact information and ask whether they would be willing to provide a witness statement. This may prompt them to commit the accident details to memory.
3. Seek Medical Attention
Even if you initially feel okay after the accident and do not need to take an ambulance to the hospital, seeking medical treatment should be a high priority. You do not want to overlook any potentially serious injuries. Sometimes, adrenaline suppresses pain in the immediate aftermath of a stressful event, which may lead you to falsely believe your injuries to be minor or non-existent.
A medical professional will provide a full-body examination to check for any underlying injuries. The faster you seek treatment, the better your recovery outcomes may be. You will also need this medical documentation to tie your injuries to the accident as part of an insurance claim.
4. Contact Your Insurance Company
Next on the list of what to do after a truck accident in Florida is contacting your insurance company. An adjuster will want to know about the damage to your vehicle, even if you were not at fault and are not filing a claim through them.
The adjuster may contact the truck company’s insurance company on your behalf to initiate a claim. They can help you understand the next steps in the insurance claim process.
5. Hire an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney
Truck companies have robust legal teams ready to defend them against liability claims. You need an equally strong attorney on your side to protect your right to compensation.
A truck accident attorney will help you collect evidence, communicate with all parties on your behalf, and guide you through the compensation process. You can focus on recovering while they take the stress of your accident case off your shoulders.
Need Help With Your Truck Accident Claim?
At Warner & Fitzmartin, PLLC, we help Florida truck accident victims begin to move forward. We will advise you on what to do after a truck accident in Florida and guide you through every step.
Call us today at 561-803-0167 or contact us online to request a free consultation with our experienced, compassionate attorneys.