What to Do After an Illinois Truck Accident

Large truck accidents can be devastating. The National Safety Council reports nearly 6,000 trucks were involved in fatal crashes, a two percent increase from the previous year. [1]

If you’ve sustained injuries from a truck accident, knowing the right steps to take after is crucial – from immediate actions at the scene to protecting your health and legal rights. A Chicago truck accident lawyer from our team can guide you through this process and help you seek fair compensation.

Immediate Actions at the Accident Scene

If you’ve been involved in a truck collision, here are some immediate actions you can take at the scene.

Ensure Safety

Immediately after a truck crash, take steps to ensure your well-being. Check yourself and any passengers for injuries. You can also check in with the other drivers on their condition. If possible, you should:

• Move to a safe location, away from moving traffic
• Turn on your car’s hazard lights
• Use flares or reflective triangles

These actions will help promote visibility, prevent secondary accidents, and ensure your safety.

Call for Help

After getting to safety, call the police to inform them of the accident. Provide information about where you are and what happened. The police report will be helpful as you prove liability for the truck accident.

Additionally, you can also request medical assistance at the scene if needed. A medical professional can assess your condition and provide emergency care. Some truck accident victims may not want to take an ambulance due to the cost, but you should always seek medical attention immediately after an accident.

Gather Information

As you wait for the police and emergency personnel to arrive, you can start to gather information to support your insurance claim process.

Exchange Information with the Truck Driver and Others Involved

Exchange information with the other drivers involved in the accident, including:

• Contact details: Name and phone number. Text them on the scene to verify the number is correct
• Insurance information: Insurance company and policy number
• Driver’s license: Number and address
• Vehicle information: Truck type, make, and model

Write everything down and take pictures as an additional precaution.

Document the Scene

In addition to exchanging information with the truck driver, you need to document the scene. Take photos and videos of the accident. Examples of what you can document include:

• Vehicle damage for all vehicles involved
• Road conditions, including any wet or icy surfaces, potholes, damage, etc.
• Visible injuries you received as a result of the accident

Snap pictures of everything. An experienced truck accident lawyer can help sort through them to determine which tells the best story.

Obtain Witness Information

Get the contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident or stopped to help. Take down their name and number so you can contact them if needed. These eyewitness accounts are critical for future claims.

Protecting Your Health and Rights

After leaving the accident site, you must protect your health and legal rights.

Seek Medical Attention

Always seek medical treatment as soon as possible after a truck accident. It does not matter if you initially feel fine or think you only suffered minor injuries. Some injuries may have delayed symptoms, which may not be apparent until a few days later.

You will need medical records to help support any future claims after a truck accident. It is an official record of your injuries, recommended treatment, and its impact on your life.

Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company

You must report the accident to your insurance company, but be careful what you say. Only share the facts about the accident, including:

• What happened
• Where the accident occurred
• When the truck crash took place
• Personal details about the other driver
• The other driver’s insurance information

Do not admit fault for the accident. Additionally, do not provide any recorded statements without legal counsel present.

Preserve Evidence

It’s up to you to gather the initial documentation for the accident to help support your accident timeline. Keep records of the following, even after you’ve engaged with a truck accident attorney.

• Communications with the truck driver and any additional drivers, insurance companies, attorneys, etc.
• Medical bills, including all doctor’s visits, ambulance rides, prescription medicine, physical therapy, etc.
• Repair estimates for your vehicle, including potential total loss valuations.
• Insurance claims and other relevant documents related to the truck accident.

This information helps support your truck accident claims, especially since you endured severe personal injuries as a result of the crash.

Truck Accident Victims Dealing with the Trucking Company and Insurers

After truck accidents, you must file a claim with the insurance companies to aid your financial recovery.

Expect Contact from the Trucking Company’s Insurer

The trucking company’s insurance may try to contact you quickly to get a settlement. Often, they will try to offer you a low offer to get you to settle. You should be cautious when communicating with the insurance adjuster.

• Do not admit fault. The insurance company may get you to accept partial or full blame for the accident to avoid paying out.
• Do not sign anything. Insurance companies may get you to sign quickly without thoroughly reading a document.
• Seek legal advice from a personal injury lawyer. Do not provide recorded statements or accept any offers before speaking with an attorney.

Legal representation will make sure you get a fair truck accident settlement. We will interface directly with the trucking company’s insurer to advocate for your rights.

Understanding Trucking Regulations

There are complex regulations governing the trucking industry to help protect the well-being of truck drivers and prevent truck accidents. These regulations include:

• Hours of service limits: Truck drivers carrying property have an 11- to 14-hour driving limit. Passenger-carrying drivers have a 10- to 15-hour limit. They must also take a 30-minute break after eight hours of consecutive driving.
• Cargo securement: All cargo must be secured by the appropriate number of tie-downs. The number required depends on the cargo’s weight dimensions.
• Drug and alcohol testing: Drivers must undergo drug and alcohol testing to ensure they are not driving while under the influence.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration governs the trucking industry. Its regulations ensure the safety of all drivers on the road. If a driver violates any of these rules, it can impact your personal injury case.

The Role of a Truck Accident Lawyer

A truck accident lawyer is critical in helping you seek justice and compensation for your truck accident. Here’s an overview of the role we can play.

Investigating the Accident

We will conduct an independent investigation to gather evidence, including the documentation you previously provided to them. They will also secure additional information, such as:

• Black box data: This records what the driver did when the truck accident occurred and general information about the truck’s maintenance history.
• Dashcam: Many cars and trucks have dash cam recordings that can help support your case.
• Surveillance footage: Police body cams may be running when they respond to the accident. Video footage from surrounding residents and businesses may also be available.
• Witness statements: Lawyers can reach out and interview any accident witnesses.

An experienced lawyer will take this information and consult with accident reconstruction experts. These professionals can review the details and reconstruct what likely happened at the accident scene. This image, in addition to the police report, accident report, medical records, and more, can support your case.

Building a Strong Case

Once your attorney is done gathering evidence, we will use their findings to build a strong case. They will be your voice through various stages of the legal process, including:

• Advocate: Lawyers help protect your rights. We know how larger corporations will try to steamroll you and will advocate for you, so that doesn’t happen.
• Negotiations: Attorneys will negotiate with the insurance company to get maximum compensation for the accident. We use the evidence they collected to support their claims.
• Court representation: If the negotiations fail, personal injury lawyers will represent you in a truck accident lawsuit. We will present the case to a judge or jury and explain why you deserve a higher settlement.

Ultimately, our Chicago personal injury lawyers do what they can to help maximize your chances of obtaining full and fair compensation for the severe injuries and losses you faced due to the truck accident.

Secure Expert Legal Representation!

Trucking accidents can cause catastrophic injuries and damage your physical and mental well-being. If you’re the victim of a trucking accident, you have rights. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have a team of experts who can help you secure a fair settlement.

Our law firm offers personalized legal solutions to help you achieve the best outcome. Contact us today at (888) 424-5757 or complete our contact form to book a free consultation with a trucking accident lawyer.

References: [1] Injury Facts

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.