What to Do After a Queens Truck Accident
Thousands of trucks pass through New York’s streets every day. Unfortunately, a small percentage of them may cause crashes. Any auto accident is an incredibly stressful experience. But due to their size and weight, collisions with trucks are especially damaging and harrowing. It can be challenging to know what to do after a truck accident in the chaos. However, it is critical that you take steps now to protect yourself and prepare for a personal injury claim.
If you have questions about a wreck or filing an injury claim, contact a truck accident attorney in Queens at The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. for a free consultation.
Steps to Take After a Truck Accident in Queens
Safety is of the utmost importance when dealing with the fallout of a truck accident. If possible, check yourself for injuries and move your vehicle off to the side of the road so it does not interfere with traffic. Moving your vehicle lowers the chances of further collisions, and turning it off reduces fire risk.
Call the Police
Once you are no longer in immediate danger, call 911. New York has a law requiring drivers to contact emergency authorities if a crash causes injury or death. Once the police arrive, they will investigate the scene and create an accident report. This report is a vital piece of evidence, so make sure you ask the responding officer for a copy. If they cannot give you one at the scene, ask where you can get a copy when the officer submits it.
Get Medical Attention
Next, you should receive emergency medical attention once the paramedics arrive. Shock and adrenaline after a crash can mask the pain from truck accident injuries. It’s crucial that you get medical care, even if you feel ok in the moment. Back injuries, neck injuries, concussions, and other serious harm may take days or weeks to start showing symptoms.
In addition to receiving medical attention at the scene, you should make a formal doctor’s appointment as soon as possible. A doctor can give you an official diagnosis, and you will need copies of your medical documentation when you file a claim. Delaying medical treatment is one of the main reasons insurance companies deny or dispute claims. Don’t give them a chance by seeing a doctor early.
Gather Evidence at the Scene of the Accident
If you are not seriously injured, you should also start documenting the accident scene. You can do this by:
- Taking pictures of any vehicle damage, your injuries, and physical evidence from the collision, such as broken glass or skid marks
- Making notes of any local environmental factors like weather, road conditions, debris, or visual obstructions
- Capturing your surroundings, such as any yield signs, speed limits, or other proof of potential traffic violations
- Saving the video recording and making backup copies if you have dashcam footage
You need to start documenting now, while the scene is still fresh. Otherwise, you could lose evidence critical to proving your truck accident claim.
Find Any Witnesses
Unless it happened late at night or on an isolated stretch of road, odds are that other drivers or passersby witnessed the collision. Witness statements often play a key evidentiary role in auto accident claims. Try to get the contact information of anyone who saw the collision happen.
Make sure you also get the responding officer’s badge number and name. Their testimony about the initial crash scene may be relevant to any insurance or lawsuit proceedings.
Get the Trucker’s Employer Information
You also need to obtain the truck driver’s information and details about their employer. Vicarious liability means that employers can be liable for their employees’ negligence. This means you will likely file a claim against the trucking company. Gather information like the driver’s name, CDL number, and proof of commercial vehicle insurance.
It is important to get the driver’s employer’s information so your attorney can preserve vital proof. For instance, they can use legal methods to request that the company refrain from any actions that could destroy evidence, such as fleet maintenance or truck body repairs. They can also obtain evidence such as:
- Driver certification and employment records
- Vehicle maintenance logs
- Loading crew records
- Inspection reports
- Driver logs
- Electronic logging device (ELD) data
Stay Off Social Media
During the claims process, it is critical that you avoid saying or doing anything that could jeopardize your truck accident case. That includes making public posts about the collision or your injuries on social media. It is very easy to accidentally say something in public that insurance companies can use against you in negotiations.
Even social media posts unrelated to the accident or your injuries can count against you. For instance, if you post a picture while doing a physical activity, like hiking or playing a sport, insurers might use that photo to dispute the extent and severity of your injuries. Your best option is to abstain from social media entirely while your case is pending – or at the very least, avoid making public comments or posts.
How Our Queens Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help
Truck wrecks introduce numerous legal complications due to employer liability and federal trucking regulations. Now that you know what to do after a semi-truck accident, contact The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. Our firm is characterized by its fierce advocacy and personal attention. We intentionally keep our caseload small so we can provide in-depth analysis for every client. We have the knowledge, resources, and tenacity to pursue every possible avenue for seeking the maximum compensation after a trucking accident.
Contact our firm online or call today for a free consultation with one of our Queens truck accident lawyers. We won’t charge any fees unless we win your case, so you have nothing to lose by reaching out.