Every year, approximately 388,000 truck accidents occur in the United States. Being hit by a truck is a serious situation that can be life-threatening. Individuals who have been in such incidents face severe injuries. If you or a loved one has been involved in a semi-truck accident, you need to be aware of the basic steps to take so that any legal claim that be processed seamlessly.

Immediately Call 911

Calling 911 should be your first and immediate step after a semi-truck accident. Once you are back to your senses and feeling safe, immediately call the authorities. No accident is too small to report to the police. It will also give you an advantage over the other party, and it is a requirement by the law. It will also help you get the necessary information documented, and you will need a police report to file a claim for your damages. A police report can be ignored if both parties didn’t suffer any injuries and there is zero to minimal damage to the vehicle.

Get medical help

Even if there are no apparent injuries, it is better to seek immediate medical assistance to ensure the safety of everyone involved. You may not show any immediate signs of injuries, but they can appear slowly with time. Without an opinion of a medical professional, you can under-report your injuries, which will affect your claim.

Contact the insurance company

Another crucial step to protect your liabilities is immediately contacting your insurance company. The truck’s insurance company will not play fair and will try to put you at fault. Your insurance company will prevent them from taking advantage of you and will deal with them. Avoid talking to the other insurance company; they might twist your wording and use it favorably.

Document everything

Remember to gather evidence through photos, videos, and recordings. Although, only do it if it is safe to do so. Don’t get out of your car if you are badly injured. But if you can walk with minimal injuries, you can get out of your car and take pictures and videos for your claim. It will be helpful to have a visual representation of the accident.

Exchange information

Once the other parties leave the scene, it will be difficult to track them. That is why you should identify everyone involved in the accidents. Get their contact information and exchange all the necessary information. Note down information, like the driver’s name, phone number, address, insurance company, policy number, license number, etc.

Don’t share any information on social media

This is crucial advice when filing a personal injury claim for compensation. If you enjoy sharing details of your personal life with your friends and followers on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, you need to avoid it till your personal injury claim is settled. What you share on social media can be used against you during the hearing of your claim. Increase the privacy of your social media accounts and limit their access to people you don’t know.

Contact a personal injury lawyer

The most important step after getting involved in a semi-truck accident is hiring an attorney to file a personal injury claim for compensation. Before taking any further steps, like contacting the insurance company, it is better to contact a personal injury lawyer to get the best possible advice on your next step.