When you are involved in a semi truck accident, you will likely be shaken up. The adreneline might be flowing and you might have trouble with figuring out what to do. By learning what you should do after an accident before you ever get into an accident, you can increase the likelihood that you will remember the proper steps and actions.

What should I do at the scene of the accident?

The first thing you should do is to determine if you were injured in the big rig accident. You will need to contact emergency services. On that phone call, you will be asked if you need medical care. Knowing the answer to this ahead of time is crucial so that you can get care if you do need it. You will have to speak to law enforcment officers. Make sure that you don’t admit fault or make it seem like you are admitting fault. You should make sure that you are honest with the officer. If possible, exchange information with the semi truck driver and get contact information for witnesses.

What should I do once I leave the scene?

If you didn’t get medical care at the scene, you need to seek out medical care. In some cases, injuries might not be evident right away. Even if you don’t think you were injured, you should still be evaluated. You should let your insurance company know that you were involved in an accident. You should also decide if you are going to seek compensation for your injuries. If you decide to seek compensation, you need to get the process started quickly.

Source: Stop Unsafe Trucks, “What to Do After an Accident,” accessed July 08, 2016