What Should I Do After a Truck Accident in Athens?

Auto accidents are generally a frightening experience. However, accidents involving commercial trucks can be particularly scary, considering the size difference between trucks and regular cars, and the often devastating consequences.

Despite your best efforts to stay safe on the road, a truck accident can happen to anyone and at any time. It’s important to know exactly what you should do following the accident, as it can influence your ability to receive compensation for your injuries, the damage to your car, and any other losses you incurred.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, contact the truck accident lawyers at Rafi Law for what to do after a truck accident as well as a free case evaluation.

What Should I Do After a Truck Accident in Athens?

Safety should be your main priority following the accident. As such, if possible, the first thing you should do is get to safety – pull your vehicle to the side of the road and turn off the engine. This will help decrease the likelihood of a secondary accident or a fire breaking out.

Try to remain calm as much as you can. Emotions might be running high, but it won’t help the situation and might actually make it worse. Instead, assess your condition and that of your passengers and/or other victims of the accident. While the following steps are important to your case, you don’t want to unnecessarily compromise your own (or someone else’s) safety

1. Call the Authorities

In Georgia, you have to report any accident where a person was injured or killed, or where property damage exceeds $500. This covers nearly all truck accident cases since these collisions are rarely minor. So, it’s in your best interest to call 911 and inform the dispatcher that you were in an accident. They will send police and ambulances to the scene.

Once the officers come to the scene of the accident, they will create an accident report of what happened. This police report is the best way to have immediate documentation of the accident, and the police will keep accurate records of all the vehicles involved.

2. Check on Others

If you’re injured, wait for help to arrive. If you’re uninjured and it’s safe to do so, check on other drivers and passengers involved in the accident to see if you can help them or offer first aid.

3. Get Medical Attention

Make sure that you get medical attention as soon as possible following the accident. Even if you don’t think you’re hurt, get a medical evaluation. You might have suffered injuries that won’t show symptoms immediately. These may end up becoming serious or life-threatening if not treated promptly, such as concussions.

Moreover, if you end up needing medical attention later, it might be difficult to demonstrate it’s related to the accident. This will give the defendants more ammunition to reduce the amount of compensation they are eligible for.

4. Document the Scene

You want to try your best to document the scene of the accident. Of course, this is something you should only do if it’s safe to do so. If you’re unable to collect the evidence, consider asking someone to do it for you. When you collect evidence at the scene of the accident, you can better preserve details about what happened and prevent the evidence from being altered or falsified.

Take photos or videos of the entire accident scene, and capture details such as the position of the vehicles, the damage caused, your injuries and those of the passengers in your vehicle, any skid marks, road conditions, the weather, and anything else that can help show what happened.

5. Exchange Information

Under the law, you have to exchange your contact information and insurance details with the other driver involved. Ask the truck driver to provide their name, address, phone number, the name of the truck owner or trucking carrier, and the details of the truck. Keep in mind that there’s always the risk of the other driver doing a hit-and-run, so get the pertinent information just to be safe.

6. Talk to the Witnesses

Witness statements can be really helpful in truck accident cases, and some other drivers or bystanders likely saw the accident happen. Talk to them and ask what they saw. If they saw the crash, politely ask them for their contact information.

7. Never Admit Fault

Don’t forget that anything you say after the accident could be used against you later on. So, never apologize for the accident or say anything that would be an admission of fault in the accident, even if you feel like you were partially responsible.

Keep a cool head at the scene and avoid posting anything publicly until you speak with an experienced lawyer. Posting seemingly small comments on social media could be detrimental to your case.

8. Talk to a Truck Accident Attorney

Getting involved in a truck accident can be an overwhelming and stressful experience that could result in serious outcomes. The focus should be making a full recovery, and not trying to endure the complexities of the law on your own.

While it might seem expensive to hire a lawyer, it’s often the best choice. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, so you have nothing to lose.

If you or a loved one was hurt in a truck accident, the experienced lawyers at Rafi Law can fight for your right to compensation. We work on a contingency fee basis, such that unless you receive a favorable outcome, you won’t have to pay us anything. Call us today at (706) 995-7547 to schedule a free consultation.