Being in an accident is nerve-wracking, but being in an accident with a commercial vehicle can be devastating. You are more likely to sustain serious injuries when you are in an accident with a truck.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, more than 4,000 people died in an accident with a large truck in 2020. Keep these things in mind if you are in an accident with a commercial truck.
Contact the police
If you contact the police, you are more likely to get a police report of the accident. A police report is a vital way to document the details of the accident.
Provide the attending officer with your identity and contact information, but do not make any admissions of guilt. An investigation will determine liability.
See a doctor even if you do not think you have an injury
After an accident, you may be in shock. You may have internal injuries and not realize it. Rear-end collisions can cause whiplash. See a doctor immediately and request an MRI or CT scan. Keep the clothing you wore in the accident as evidence of your injuries.
Try to find out what company the truck driver works for. If possible, take pictures of the accident scene. Ask others who are on the scene if they would be willing to act as witnesses. Get their contact information or write down their license plate information. The more information you can gather, the easier it will be to get compensation for your injuries.