What to Do After a Truck Accident in Las Vegas

If you have been involved in a truck accident in Las Vegas, make sure to keep the following advice in mind to protect your health, your finances, and your injury claim if necessary. Continue reading below to learn what you need to do after a truck accident. For specific answers to your individual questions, contact THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys anytime, 24/7 to schedule a free initial case review.

What to Do Immediately After a Las Vegas Truck Wreck

It is natural to be confused and disoriented after a violent collision. You may not know what to do in the immediate aftermath. It’s also entirely possible that you may be too injured to take specific actions right away, in which case your sole focus should be seeking emergency medical attention.

If you’re not too hurt to move, however, there are certain things you should and should not do to protect your rights and your ability to recover compensation, such as:

• Pull over to the side of the road, away from the flow of traffic, to prevent additional collisions and injuries.
• Check yourself and any passengers in your vehicle for obvious injuries, and if necessary, contact emergency medical services for help.
• Exchange contact and insurance information with the truck driver, if possible, and request statements and contact details from any eyewitnesses as well.
• Notify the police about the accident to ensure they respond to any emergency situations and produce a formal accident report.
• Take photographs of the accident scene, damage to your vehicle, and any visible injuries, and write down as much as you can remember about the collision.
• Report the accident to your insurance provider per your auto insurance policy.
• Avoid making potentially self-incriminating statements such as “I didn’t see you” or “I’m sorry” to others, and avoid discussing your case on social media entirely.
• Contact a Las Vegas truck accident attorney to schedule your free consultation as soon as possible.

Should I Seek Medical Treatment Even If I Am Not Injured?

If you don’t notice any obvious injuries immediately after a truck accident, you may not feel as though a medical exam is really necessary. However, no matter how minor or severe a wreck was, it’s always a good idea to get a thorough medical exam afterward. This is because many accident-related injuries may be invisible or imperceptible at first, while still having the potential to cause serious issues later on.

Whiplash, for example, is one of the most common “hidden” injuries resulting from truck accidents. This soft-tissue damage to the neck and upper back often leaves victims with chronic pain, stiffness, and other unpleasant symptoms, but may not be evident until weeks or even months following a crash. The symptoms of mild concussions, often caused by sudden jolts or bumps to the head, can also take time to manifest, but frequently have significant long-term health consequences. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is another common invisible injury among car accident survivors.

These kinds of injuries may be imperceptible at first. If they grow into a more serious problem, you’ll have a much easier time handling the consequences if you sought prompt medical attention after the crash. This is because your medical evaluations will become a part of your permanent health record, which can be a valuable resource if you ever need to file a personal injury claim.

Who Should I Call After a Truck Accident in Las Vegas?

If you were injured in a Las Vegas truck accident, your first move should be to call emergency services by dialing 911. In addition to notifying emergency medical teams, dispatchers will also usually contact the police for you.

When the police arrive at the accident scene, they can help you by redirecting the flow of traffic, rounding up eyewitnesses, and writing up crash reports. Police accident reports often include information like toxicology test results and who was officially assigned fault in your accident, which can be useful evidence in any future claims you make. Keep in mind that the police do not have the final say when it comes to liability for a Las Vegas truck crash.

After you contact the police, it’s usually also a good idea to reach out to your insurance company to report your accident. Many auto insurance policies require you to notify the provider promptly in the event of a crash. Contacting your insurer can also be helpful as you speak to the truck driver at the accident scene since their representatives can tell you exactly what kind of information to collect.

If you sustained injuries as a result of a truck driver’s negligence, you should contact a knowledgeable truck accident attorney in Las Vegas. Most personal injury lawyers offer free consultations and can help you estimate the relative strength and value of your claim before you make any big decisions. The legal team at THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys works on a contingency-fee-basis, which means you won’t owe us a cent unless and until we win compensation for you.

How to Prove the Truck Driver Was Liable

Proving liability in a truck accident can be far more complicated than proving liability in a car or motorcycle accident. Not only do these accidents typically involve catastrophic damage and exorbitant repair and medical bills, they also often include several potentially liable parties aside from the driver of the truck that hit you.

Trucking companies that employed the driver or owned the truck, cargo loading companies that secured any freight being hauled in the trailer, or even truck repair shops that failed to adequately inspect or repair the truck could all bear part of the blame.

In cases this complex, strong supporting evidence is crucial to the success of your claim. A Las Vegas truck accident attorney can help you identify and gather valuable proof, such as:

What to Say to Insurance Adjusters After a Truck Accident in Las Vegas

While it’s important to notify your insurance company after a truck accident and may sometimes be necessary to speak with the truck driver’s insurance provider as well, it’s very important to pay attention to what you say during these conversations. Insurance reps may seem friendly over the phone, but they’re working for large corporations that record everything you say and will not hesitate to use your own statements against you to protect their bottom lines.

When you speak with adjusters from your own insurance company or the truck driver’s, make sure that you:

• Remain respectful and truthful in statements about your accident, without offering any information that you are not specifically asked to provide. Even innocent, honest comments can harm your claim if they can be twisted to imply that you bear any portion of fault for your accident.
• Avoid statements such as: “I’m sorry,” “It was my fault,” “I didn’t see them,” or “I’m not hurt” when speaking to adjusters. Also, try not to offer your opinions or best guesses about anything you’re not sure of. If you don’t know the answer to a question, feel free to say that you just don’t know.
• Reject any requests to provide recorded statements and consider having a lawyer present for any conversations with the provider. Lawyers can communicate and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf to ensure that you have the strongest case possible.
• Do not accept the first settlement deal the insurance provider suggests, as it’s common for these companies to issue lowball offers early on during negotiations in an attempt to minimize their payout as much as possible. A good lawyer can help you determine the full and fair value of your claim and won’t rest until you receive the compensation you need to recover.

How Can THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys Help Me?

When you hire the personal injury attorneys of THE702FIRM Injury Attorneys in Las Vegas, we will be prepared to take swift action to ensure you receive the care you need and seek the compensation you deserve. We’re happy to meet with you remotely or even come directly to you if you need our assistance at the scene of your accident.

Once we establish the groundwork for your case, we will relentlessly investigate and gather compelling evidence to give your claim the best chance of success. We will also negotiate aggressively with insurance providers to demand rightful compensation, and even take your case to court if needed.

Take the first steps toward a successful outcome in your Las Vegas truck accident claim. Contact us now for your free initial consultation. You can call us anytime or fill out our convenient online contact form to get started.