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Phone: 214-346-9529
The Girards Law Firm

Q:
What should I do if I'm in a truck accident?

A:

The moments following a trucking collision are scary and confusing, so it's important to plan ahead and think about what you need to do in the event you get into an accident. If you are seriously injured, you need to worry about your health first. Call 911, and get emergency medical help immediately. The following tips apply only if you do not need to go to the hospital immediately, and you are able to stay at the scene of the accident. 

  • Call the police. Whether or not anyone got hurt, you need to report the accident and have an officer there to fill out an accident report. 
  • Get plenty of information. Make sure you get the name, address, phone number, license plate number, and truck company name from the truck driver. You will also need his insurance information. If there were any witnesses, try to get their names and contact information as well—this could come in handy if your case goes to court. 
  • Take pictures. This was harder to ask clients to do in the past, but nowadays, it seems like everyone has a camera built into their smartphones. Take pictures of anything and everything you think may be important—damages to the vehicles, signs, road conditions, and injuries you sustained. It's one thing to say an accident looked a certain way, but it's another thing to have the photographic proof. 
  • Call your insurance company. Report the accident to your insurance company, but do not speak to the trucker's insurance company yet. They may try to get you to settle for an amount that is far too little for what you've endured. 
  • Call your lawyer. Your lawyer will be able to tell you how to deal with the trucker's insurance company and guide you through what needs to happen next. 

If you've been injured in a trucking collision in Texas, Oklahoma, or Arkansas, call Girards Law Firm for a free consultation at 888-897-2762.