4 Tips On How To Properly Deal With A Truck Accident
Getting in an accident can be one of the most terrifying experiences of your life. When that accident happens with a bigger vehicle, like a truck, things can get even more frightening. It can be hard to know what you need to do and how you need to respond, emotionally, mentally, and physically. The following will explore four helpful tips that can guide you as you deal with a truck accident.
Of course, every accident is a little different, and so it follows that the outcome and appropriate responses to every accident will vary a little. For the best results, be sure to discuss your situation with a lawyer who can properly examine the context of your situation and provide advice regarding your particular circumstances.
Avoid Social Media
Whatever caused the accident and whatever pathway you’re going down in response to the accident, it is never a good idea to turn to social media. Lawyers, judges, insurance company employees, police officers, and the people you got in the accident with all have access to the internet too. Anything you say, post, share, comment on, like, or follow can be used against you in a legal proceeding. Even something as simple as you commenting on your sister’s new hairstyle might be interpreted as you not being as damaged from the accident as you claim to be. Even if the other parties involved have turned to social media, keep yourself completely invisible from the internet until the situation is fully resolved unless advised by a lawyer to do otherwise.
Find An Attorney
Finding an attorney might sound like a scary process, but it is an absolute necessity. The insurance companies you’ll be dealing with will have lawyers of their own who are determined to get you the smallest settlement possible; the other party might also seek out a lawyer; you can’t combat this type of legal wherewithal without a lawyer of your own. Stewart Law Offices points out that free consultations are quite common when it comes to vehicle accident law. You can also easily find a legal team that only gets paid if they get you money in the proceedings following the accident.
It’s best to do this step early on as the moment you sign something or file a claim or form or speak to someone from your insurance provider; you might be eliminating other possible courses of action available to you. A lawyer should be the first person you talk to.
Seek Out Mental Health Support
Most people know to visit a doctor after they’ve been in an accident, but few people think about visiting a mental health professional. It turns out that car accidents are the number one cause of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) among Americans. If you’re having trouble getting back behind the wheel (or getting in cars in general) or are struggling with the financial burden of the accident, you might need mental health support. If you’re frustrated by the work you’ve had to miss and will have to continue missing as much of your identity comes from your work and providing for those whom you love or are finding yourself in an uncomfortably positive, manic mood, you might need mental health encouragement. Often mental health challenges are harder to overcome the longer they’re ignored.
Ask For Records And Copies Of Everything
Did you go to the doctor? Ask for a copy of the report and bill. Was your car seen by a mechanic? As for a description of the state, it was in when you brought it in. Take pictures of injuries or other details. Save your receipts for everything related to the accident. Did you have to buy lunch from a restaurant while you were waiting to be admitted to the hospital? Did you purchase an extra phone charger because there was no way you could drive home and get yours while you talked with law enforcement? Did you pay a babysitter to run over and check on the kids while you were dealing with the accident? Have you taken any taxis that you wouldn’t have needed to pay for if your car was working? All of this information should be saved somewhere safe. Don’t forget to include screenshots of text conversations if that’s necessary.
The above tips should help you mitigate the damages post-truck accident. Again, because every accident is different, it’s in your best interest to reach out to a legal professional before you take any actions. Often insurance companies have their own doctors and mechanics they want you to visit. An attorney will have an equivalent professional who can help ensure that your needs are met.
