If you have been in a truck accident in Indiana, you should first understand that nothing is more important than your health and well-being. It is imperative that you take the necessary steps to ensure you are treated immediately for any serious injuries. Your truck accident attorney can help you navigate the best way to seek the compensation you may be entitled to recover.

What to Do After a Truck Accident

As you read through these steps, note that some may not apply to your situation depending on whether an accident has already occurred or you are being preemptively prepared. These tips improve your chances of a successful recovery and injury claim. However, even if you don’t follow these steps exactly, you may still be able to recover compensation for what you have been through.

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1. Get Yourself to Safety

Removing yourself from the risk of additional harm is a top priority. If your vehicle is safe to drive, turn on your hazard lights and pull over to the side of the road as far from traffic as possible. If your vehicle is not drivable after your truck accident, but you can safely move yourself, get out of your car and get to the side of the road. The last thing you want is for another vehicle to hit your car while you are in it.

2. Contact Law Enforcement

It is important to have documentation of the accident, which can serve as an official record of what happened and may be required to file an insurance claim. Notify the local police, sheriff’s department, or Indiana State Police immediately. The report should document when the accident occurred, what happened, who was involved, and any witnesses. When answering the officer’s questions, you should do so truthfully but be careful not to acknowledge or imply fault. Any admission or implication of fault can be used against you by the other driver’s insurance company. The officer will make their determination of fault based on the facts.

3. Gather Evidence at the Scene

There is much to think about immediately following a truck accident, including some things you can do to help strengthen your claim. Taking photos of the accident scene on your smartphone can be beneficial to demonstrate the conditions that day and the damage.

Though the officer on scene may gather witness information, consider requesting that information from them so your attorney can reach out to witnesses on your behalf if necessary. You should also get the truck driver’s information and all information about their vehicle and the company they work for.

4. File an Insurance Claim

Indiana is an at-fault insurance state. This means that the person or party who caused the truck accident is generally responsible, or their insurance is responsible, for paying for the damage caused. If you have sustained serious injuries or vehicle damage, the truck driver or other liable party may be responsible for compensating you for what you have been through. If their insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement or there is disagreement over who was at fault, you may consider filing a lawsuit.

5. Speak to a Truck Accident Attorney

Accidents with commercial trucks can be complicated because they often involve multiple potentially liable parties, such as the truck driver, trucking company, cargo loader, and others. An experienced truck accident lawyer can help you navigate the Indiana legal and insurance systems to seek the compensation you deserve. In Indiana, you only have two years from the date the accident occurred to file a lawsuit, so it is essential to take action quickly.

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Compensation for a Truck Accident

The amount of compensation you are entitled to depends on the extent of damage you sustained because of the accident. This includes physical, mental, emotional, and financial harm. If you are injured, your medical expenses may be covered, as well as any lost wages if you cannot work temporarily or permanently because of the injury. Compensation for how the accident has impacted your life is more complex to calculate but just as important. This could include pain and suffering, post-traumatic stress, depression, loss of enjoyment of life, and more. Each truck accident is different, so there is no average settlement amount. Your attorney can help you understand the value of your claim.

Contact Us

Church Church Hittle and Antrim has proudly served personal injury clients across the state of Indiana, including Indianapolis, Noblesville, Fishers, Westfield, Carmel, Tipton, Zionsville, Whitestown, Lebanon, and beyond. Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys at CCHA Law can independently investigate your truck accident to help determine what happened and calculate the best legal strategy to hold the responsible party accountable. Contact us to schedule an appointment.