There are several steps you should take after a truck accident in Oklahoma to protect both your health and your legal rights. Call 911 immediately, get medical attention as soon as possible, document the scene if you’re able to, avoid making statements about fault, and contact a truck accident lawyer before speaking with the trucking company’s insurer.
What you do in the hours and days following the crash can have a significant impact on any claim you file down the road, so it’s worth taking the time to learn about what you should do in advance if possible.
Call 911 Right Away
The first thing you should do after a truck accident is call 911 so that law enforcement and emergency responders are dispatched to the scene. When officers arrive, they will create an official accident report documenting the details of the crash. That report can serve as a critical piece of evidence for your claim later on.
Be sure to provide the officers with an honest account of what happened, but do not speculate about who was at fault or offer opinions about what you think went wrong.
Seek Medical Treatment
It is important to receive prompt medical care after an accident, regardless of whether you have any obvious injuries. Some types of harm, particularly those involving the head, neck, and internal organs, don’t always produce immediate symptoms.
A delay in treatment can not only put your health at risk but can also give the insurance company grounds to argue that your injuries weren’t as serious as you claim. Your medical records will serve as some of the most important evidence in your case.
Document the Scene
If your injuries allow, try to collect as much evidence at the scene as possible. Take photographs of the damage to all vehicles involved, the position of the trucks and cars on the road, any skid marks or debris, traffic signals, and the surrounding area.
If there are witnesses nearby, ask for their names and contact information. These details may be harder to obtain once you leave the scene.
Be Careful About What You Say
Do not apologize for the accident and do not accept any blame at the scene either. A seemingly casual statement like “I didn’t see you” could be used against you later by the trucking company’s insurance adjuster.
Along those same lines, you should avoid giving a recorded statement to any insurance company before you’ve spoken with an attorney. Adjusters are trained to ask questions in ways that can minimize the value of your settlement.
Contact a Truck Accident Lawyer
Truck accident cases move quickly on the other side in that the trucking company will likely dispatch its own investigators to the scene within hours of the crash. Key evidence, like electronic logging device data and dashcam footage, can be overwritten and destroyed if it isn’t preserved in time.
Getting a personal injury attorney involved early on in the process allows them to send a spoliation letter on your behalf, demanding that evidence be retained.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Truck Accident Lawyer at Gorospe Law Group
For better or worse, the steps you take immediately after a truck accident in Oklahoma takes place can severely impact the success of your personal injury claim. To make sure you take appropriate legal action, the attorneys at Gorospe Law Group provide free consultations. Call us today at (918) 771-9458.
We can answer any questions you may have about your case at that time and work on a contingency fee basis, so you’ll only pay attorney’s fees if you win compensation.