Truck accidents ruin the lives of thousands of people nationwide every year, including in Mississippi. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says there were close to 4,500 fatal truck accidents across the country in one recent year, along with 114,000 crashes where someone suffered an injury.
Collisions between trucks and other vehicles frequently result in severe injuries, so it’s essential to take steps immediately to get the help you need and protect your right to seek compensation.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Mississippi
Here’s what you need to do to protect yourself and your rights if you’re involved in a truck accident in Mississippi:
- Call 911. Trucks often inflict major injuries in accidents because of their large size and weight. Even if your injuries seem minor at first, call 911 right away to bring police and emergency medical personnel to the scene. The police will investigate the crash and file a truck accident report you can use later on. Medical personnel may also evaluate you for any potentially serious injuries, including ones that haven’t yet shown symptoms.
- Get the necessary information from the truck driver. To file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit after a truck accident, you’ll need certain information from the truck driver. This includes their name, contact information, commercial driver’s license number, personal auto insurance information, and their employer’s name and commercial auto insurance information. Without this information, it will be much harder for you to recover compensation for your injuries.
- Document the crash scene. Before leaving the scene of a truck accident, take a few moments to document what happened as best you can. If your injuries aren’t too severe, take pictures of the damage to your vehicle, damage to the truck, any injuries you sustained, and the area around the crash site.
- See a doctor. Chances are, medical personnel will bring you to a hospital after a truck accident for a more thorough medical evaluation. If not, see your doctor as soon as possible. You may have major internal injuries that haven’t fully manifested and require emergency medical treatment. Your doctor can also help you document all the injuries you’ve suffered.
- Save all your medical records. Your medical records are crucial when it comes to recovering compensation for your injuries in a Mississippi truck accident. Be sure to hold on to them.
- Don’t talk to any insurance adjusters until you’ve spoken to a lawyer. Insurance adjusters play a key role when it comes to claiming compensation after a truck accident, so you need to be careful about what information you give them. Your best bet is to say nothing and let an attorney handle all communications with the various insurance companies.
- Don’t say anything on social media. Anything you say about a truck accident, regardless of the audience, can potentially come back to bite you when you claim compensation. Because of this, it’s in your best interest to avoid posting information on social media until your case is resolved.
- Hire a Mississippi truck accident lawyer. An experienced truck accident attorney can help you pursue full compensation for your injuries and the different financial and personal losses you suffered in the truck accident.
Talk to Our Experienced Truck Accident Attorneys in Jackson, MS Today
Still have questions about what to do after a Mississippi truck accident? We are here to help.
Contact the law offices of Derek L. Hall, PC, today for a free initial consultation.
