When a standard vehicle collides with a large truck and someone dies, there’s a nearly 70% chance that death will occur in the standard vehicle. That statistic exemplifies the insulation most truck drivers have when they’re involved in accidents versus the risks regular cars face when struck.

If you’ve been struck by a truck or are just curious about what you should do in that situation, keep reading. In this post, our team breaks down steps to take after an 18-wheeler accident that could save your life.

1. Get to Safety

You’ve just been involved in an 18-wheeler accident. The first thing you need to do is take inventory of your situation and get to safety.

Are you able to move? Are your family members able-bodied? Are you in a hazardous environment?

Asking those questions to get yourself and your passengers to a safe space is imperative in ensuring that matters don’t get worse.

2. Call 911

For medical treatment or just to manage the road obstructions caused by your crash, you’ll want to call 911. Operators will send ambulances to the scene of your accident in addition to police officers.

Police officers can help facilitate the taking of statements from those involved in your accident which will be useful should you need to go to court or negotiate a settlement with insurers.

3. Collect Relevant Information

Just like any accident, you’ll want to take down a trucker’s information so your insurance company can pursue damages. Key information to collect post-accidents includes the driver’s name, license number, plate number, the company he/she works for, and his/her DOT number.

If the driver that struck you does not have insurance or is being coy about providing information, get to safety and notify the police.

4. Collect Witness Information

If people saw your accident take place, ask them if they’d be willing to provide witness accounts. If appropriate, you can collect accounts on video recording. If not appropriate, collect contact information to share with your attorney or insurer so they can follow up later.

Witness accounts can have a large impact on settlement outcomes so don’t skip this step if you have the opportunity to tackle it.

5. Call an Attorney

Before you call your insurer and report your accident, pick up the phone and call a skilled accident attorney like David W. Starnes Attorney At Law or another prominent firm. These professionals can direct you on how to interact with your insurer what documentation you’ll need from your physician, and more.

The sooner you get a lawyer attached to truck accidents, the better your case’s outcome will be.

An 18-Wheeler Accident Can Have Lifelong Repercussions

Walking away from an 18-wheeler accident is a lot harder than walking away from a standard car crash. Accidents with vehicles as large as commercial trucks can leave you incapacitated, mentally scarred, and with a bevy of other issues.

To manage those problems long-term, you must take the steps necessary to get the settlement you’re legally entitled to with the help of an attorney.

We wish you the best if you’ve been affected by an accident or hope you never are if you’re reading this post for purely educational purposes. If you’d like more lifestyle insight, we welcome you to read additional content on our blog.