What Can I Do to Protect My Rights After a Truck Accident?
It’s important that you protect your rights if you are involved in a truck accident in Dallas. However, you may be unsure about what you can do to protect your rights after a truck accident in Texas. Take steps to look after your rights by gathering evidence, working with a lawyer, and more.
Gather Evidence Immediately After Your Accident
In order to protect your rights following a truck accident, it’s important that you take steps to prove your side of the story right away. You can take control of the situation by taking out a camera and getting pictures of:
- Your injuries
- The damage to your vehicle
- The position of your vehicle and the truck
- Any hazards that could have caused the accident
In addition to taking pictures, you should speak to any witnesses who saw the accident. Get their names and contact information so that they may be contacted again later to confirm what you say occurred during the accident.
Avoid Long Discussions with the Driver Who Struck You
You will need to exchange contact information with the driver who struck your vehicle after a truck accident in Dallas. However, you should limit the discussion you have with the truck driver. Do not admit fault for the accident. In fact, you should not even say you are sorry, though this may feel like second nature.
Apologizing for the accident or admitting any level of fault could prevent you from getting compensation for your losses. In addition to limiting your conversation with the driver who caused your accident, you should limit your discussions of the accident. Do not post about it on social media, for example.
Report Your Accident to the Police in Dallas
It’s important that you contact law enforcement officers if you were hurt in a truck accident in Dallas. Police officers can then come out to the scene of your accident and assess the situation. An officer may then file an official report regarding your accident.
Note that, in some situations, the truck driver who caused your accident could even be arrested. For example, if the driver caused your accident after drinking alcohol and getting behind the wheel, they could be charged with driving under the influence (DUI).
Get Medical Treatment Immediately After Your Accident
If you were hurt in a truck accident in Dallas, make sure you seek out medical treatment right away. You may need to call an ambulance in some situations. In other cases, you could be well enough to drive yourself to a healthcare facility to get treatment for:
- Head or brain injuries
- Back, neck, or spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries or bleeding
- Cuts, bruises, or abrasions
Getting medical treatment quickly helps establish that your injuries were caused by the accident. You may only get compensation if it can be shown that the collision directly led to your injuries. Make sure that you keep all medical documents you are given, including your bills.
Contact a Lawyer Before Speaking with Insurance Agents
Many drivers end up approached by insurance agents after a truck accident in Dallas. You may not want to communicate with these individuals until you contact a Dallas truck accident lawyer. Exercising caution with insurance agents may help you protect your rights.
Insurance agents are primarily concerned with protecting their bottom line after a truck accident in Dallas. They may attempt to derail your claim by trying to get you to admit fault for the collision. They could also try to get you to say that your injuries are not as severe as you claim.
Finally, some insurance agents will offer you a settlement right away. This settlement offer is generally low and insufficient to cover all of your losses. However, if you accept it, you may be unable to seek additional compensation.
A lawyer may be able to step in to protect you in this situation. Your lawyer may also take charge of building your case and helping you get compensation for your medical expenses, vehicle repair costs, and more through a settlement or court case.
Take to a Lawyer to Protect Your Rights After an Accident
You have many options when it comes to protecting your rights after an accident. Take pictures of the scene of the accident, contact law enforcement, get medical attention, and reach out to a Dallas car accident lawyer for help. You may reach us right now to get a free consultation regarding your rights after a motor vehicle collision.
Start working on your case by calling (469) 998-4069 or completing our online contact form.
