The steps you take immediately following a truck accident are incredibly important. These decisions can make or break your truck accident lawsuit. Whenever clients ask us what they did wrong early on, it usually comes down to the few minutes after your truck accident. Marietta truck accident attorneys meet with dozens of truck accident victims every year. The ones who have the best outcome are those who follow the advice given here.
What a lot of people don’t realize is that it can be very difficult to make the right decisions in the minutes after a serious truck accident. All you’re worried about in those precious moments is that everybody is okay. You’re not thinking about which truck accident attorney in Marietta you’re going to hire. You certainly aren’t worried about whether your truck accident insurance claim is going to be approved. Here, we’ll talk about very specific steps you need to take following your truck accident in Marietta. We’ll also touch on what can happen if you fail to follow these guidelines.
If you still have questions or have recently been involved in a truck accident, feel free to call our office. You can schedule a time to come in and meet with one of our associates who can help you get the process started.
You Must Call 911 Immediately After Your Truck Accident
The first thing you need to do immediately following your Georgia truck accident is call 911. You don’t have a choice about this. Not only are you legally required to report the crash, but you also have to protect your rights.
When the cops come out to the scene, they’re going to do a thorough investigation. They’ll take note of the accident scene and put all of their information in their report. Your truck accident attorney in Marietta is going to need this police report. It contains valuable information that they won’t be able to get any other way.
Some of the information contained in the police report includes:
- The name, driver’s license, registration, and insurance
information for both drivers - Contact information for any eyewitnesses
- A description of the accident scene
- A description of the road conditions
- Pictures of the damaged vehicle
Another important thing the police officers will do is arrange for an ambulance to come out to the scene.
Let the Ambulance Take You to the Emergency Room
Like it or not, you have to go the emergency room after your Georgia truck accident. You need to get checked out by a licensed doctor. One of the biggest mistakes people make is refusing to go to the hospital after their crash. They may feel fine in the minutes after the accident. It’s not until later that night or the next day that they start to feel off. They could have suffered a traumatic brain injury or internal injuries. There’s no way to know for sure unless you are treated by a physician.
At the hospital, the doctor will perform several tests. Some of these include:
- MRI
- X-ray
- CT scan
- Physical examination
- Neurological examination
These tests will give them a better idea of what sort of injuries you’ve suffered. Not only will they treat your immediate injuries, but they’ll also outline a course of treatment for you. The expenses for this hospital visit and any medical treatment afterwards should be covered by the defendant’s insurance company.
Remember – You Need to Protect Your Legal Rights
People tend to forget that by following the above steps, they’re really just protecting their own rights. It doesn’t matter what the law says. If you don’t call 911 after your truck accident, you won’t have any way to prove the crash happened the way you say it did. You need that police report to prove the other driver was at fault.
As much as you don’t want to go to the emergency room, you owe it to yourself to get checked out. Even if you don’t need to sue for damages, you still need to make sure you’re okay. Certain industries, such as internal injuries or a traumatic brain injury an prove fatal if not treated.
You also have a choice when it comes to hiring an attorney. We simply suggest that you at least speak with one before you do anything else. This way, whatever decision you do make will be an informed decision.
Speak with a Skilled Truck Accident Attorney in Marietta, Georgia
Invariably, when there’s a truck accident, one or both of the drivers involved want to avoid reporting the crash to their insurance company. They’re afraid their rates will skyrocket. The truth is, if you don’t report your accident, you have no way to ensure you’ll be compensated for your injuries.
The best way to make sure this happens is by calling a skilled Marietta personal injury attorney right at the outset. They’ll help make sure your insurance claim is filed properly. If your claim is denied, they’ll help you file an appeal. Finally, if need be, they’ll file a truck accident lawsuit on your behalf.
Filing suit is a last resort. If your attorney can negotiate a settlement with the insurance company, that’s the best result. Once you file suit, you’re going to incur thousands of dollars in costs. It will also take a lot longer to get your money if you sue. It may be in your best interests to settle the case early, even if it means you walk away with less money than you initially thought.
Don’t Wait Too Long to Speak with One of Our Marietta Personal Injury Attorneys
As discussed earlier, the last thing you want to do is wait until the last minute to hire a Marietta personal injury attorney. In Georgia, you only have two years to file a truck accident lawsuit. This is because the statute of limitations indicates that, if you miss this filing deadline, your case will be dismissed. We don’t want you to risk having this happen. That’s why we offer our clients a free, initial consultation. This gives you a chance to sit down with someone who’s handled plenty of cases just like yours.
The best thing to do is to call Diaz & Gaeta in the days following your truck accident. Schedule a date and time that works best for you. You can come into the office or, if need be, conduct your initial meeting via Skype or Zoom. As long as you have this meeting in the days or weeks following your crash, your attorney will have plenty of time to prepare your case.
