Truck accidents can cause devastating injuries and be confusing events. Truck accidents can also involve complex legal claims and raise liability issues among multiple parties. You might not know what to do.
Dulin McQuinn Young’s truck accident attorneys provide you with the following checklist of things to do after a truck accident in Denver.
1. Ensure Safety
The most important thing is your safety. Pull your vehicle over as close to the accident scene as possible, but outside the path of oncoming traffic. Activate your hazard lights. This can help avoid secondary accidents.
2. Check for Injuries
Check yourself and your passengers for injuries. Check the occupants of other vehicles if you can do so safely. Assist injured passengers and drivers.
3. Report the Accident
Call 911 to report the accident. In Colorado, it’s the law to report any accident that results in injury, death, or property damage in excess of $1,000, which most truck accidents are going to cause. Inform the dispatcher of the status of injured victims and report any potential dangers, such as proximity to electrical wires or leaking gas.
By reporting the accident, a law enforcement officer can be dispatched to the scene of the accident to complete an official report. An accident report may include the following:
- Information about the drivers and passengers
- Driver and witness statements
- Diagrams with the vehicles’ position
- Notes about the damage to each vehicle
- Identifying information about the truck driver and the trucking company they work for
- Pictures
- Information about whether the truck driver was cited for any traffic violation
When talking to the police, provide a clear and concise statement about how the accident happened, but avoid admitting any fault or speculating on who is at fault.
Ask the police officer about how to get a copy of the report once it is ready. The police report can go a long way toward determining fault and liability for the truck accident.
4. Seek Medical Treatment
You may be taken away immediately from the accident scene by ambulance if you were seriously injured. However, if you’re not, be sure to seek medical attention immediately for yourself so that your injuries can be properly diagnosed and treated.
Not all injuries are immediately apparent, so it’s crucial that you receive the necessary diagnostic tests and medical evaluations to ensure you receive proper medical treatment.
5. Obtain Information from the Truck Driver
Ask the truck driver for the following information:
- Their name and contact information
- Their employer’s name, address, and telephone number
- Their commercial driver’s license number
- Their U.S. DOT number
- Insurance information
6. Document the Accident Scene
Take pictures of your injuries, skid marks, debris in the roadway, and relevant traffic signs and signals. This information can help your truck accident lawyer and accident reconstruction experts determine the cause of the accident.
7. Keep Detailed Records
Keep all information related to the accident, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost wage statements
- Vehicle repair reports and estimates
- Medical records
- Pain journal entries
- Communications from the insurance company
8. Contact an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer
A Denver truck accident lawyer can investigate your accident, handle communications with the insurance company, and fight for the fair compensation you deserve.
Dulin McQuinn Young has extensive experience handling personal injury claims in Denver.
Contact us today for a free consultation.