If you have been in a truck accident in Tennessee, taking certain steps early on in the process can help you to recover the settlement you deserve.
There is nothing more terrifying than seeing 80,000 pounds of steel careening your direction. Large trucks weigh up to 20 times more than passenger cars and cause significant, terrible damages when involved in an accident. If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident in Tennessee, taking the right steps after the accident can help to protect your right to compensation and ensure that the claims process unfolds as smoothly as possible. If you have more questions, please reach out to our Nashville, TN truck accident lawyers directly.
1. Get Medical Care
The most important thing that you can do after being involved in a truck accident is to seek medical care. In many cases, this will not be optional—you may be unconscious or so badly injured that emergency personnel are called to the scene of the accident to transport you to the hospital. Not only is it important that you seek care, though, but that you continue to seek care and follow your doctor’s orders regarding treatment in the days, weeks, and months after the accident. If you fail to follow your doctor’s orders and do due diligence to heal to the extent possible, this could be used against you during the claims process to devalue your claim.
2. Report the Accident
Seeking medical care is your number one priority because your life may depend on it. After that, you need to immediately report the accident. If a police report has not already been filed, you should prioritize this. If a police report has been filed, be sure to give your statement and request a copy of the report for your records.
You also need to contact your insurance company to report the accident immediately. If you fail to report the accident to your insurance company, it may have grounds to deny your claim.
3. Hire an Attorney
When you are facing serious losses as a result of a truck accident, an attorney can be an advocate in helping you to recover the compensation that you deserve. Your attorney will be responsible for investigating your accident, requesting that evidence be preserved, determining fault and liability, calculating damages, representing you in conversations with the insurance company, and more. Hiring an attorney is one of the most important things that you can do after a crash and may significantly improve the outcome of your case.
4. Document Everything
It can be difficult to think about collecting evidence or documenting your accident after being injured, but it is important. Your attorney can handle the investigation into your case, but you will need to keep a journal of your injuries and your recovery. This may be used at a later date to support your claim for noneconomic damages.
Call Bednarz Law Today
If you have been involved in a serious truck accident, it is time to call an experienced truck accident attorney. To learn more about your rights and how to get started, please reach out to our truck accident lawyers in Tennessee directly today for your free consultation. We are here for you.
