Accidents involving larger commercial trucks can be terrifying, but the immediate aftermath of the incident is an important time frame for individuals involved. There are various steps that you can take at the scene of a truck crash in Arizona to help ensure that you are properly cared for and that you recover the compensation you are entitled to. For more information contact a Phoenix truck accident lawyer.
The number one priority at any commercial truck accident scene is your safety and well-being. If you, your passengers, or your vehicle are in an unsafe location, you need to assess the situation and try and find safety. If your injuries do not prevent you from moving, you need to get to the shoulder of the road and well away from traffic. That said, do not move any person who has sustained a severe injury.
Every person in your vehicle needs to be checked for injuries. If there are any injuries, you need to call 911 and let the dispatcher know that an ambulance should get to the scene as soon as possible. Even if injuries do not seem severe, or if you do not feel any pain at all, you need to proceed to the hospital or a doctor as soon as possible. In the early stages after a vehicle accident occurs, the only thing that matters is safety and medical care.
Only if it is safe to do so at the scene of a crash, and if your injuries do not prevent you from doing so, you can begin to gather evidence. At the scene of a commercial truck crash in Arizona, there may be various types of evidence available for you to gather. This includes, but is not limited to:
Using a cell phone or another type of camera to take pictures of everything. This includes vehicle damage, debris, injuries, the truck and truck company name, traffic and weather conditions, and more.
Filming a short video on your cell phone of the entire scene. Pictures are good, and a video is even better. However, we encourage you not to narrate the video, at least not in-depth. Anything you say after a commercial truck crash occurs could end up being used against you by other parties.
The names and contact information of any eyewitnesses to the incident. This includes bystanders, drivers and passengers not involved in the vehicle accident, and any other individuals involved in the crash.
As with any other type of accident, you need to exchange information with every other driver involved. You need to get the name and insurance information of the commercial truck driver, as well as the license plate number and the truck owner’s name.
It is not uncommon for commercial truck accidents to involve multiple vehicles. If there are other drivers involved, you need to get their names and insurance information as well.
We understand that the aftermath of some vehicle accidents can become hostile. If you experience any pushback from others involved, do not try to obtain their information. Let law enforcement handle this part of the process for you.
Before you leave the scene of a commercial truck accident, you need to get the name and badge number of the police officer who responded and conducted an investigation. We want you to ask the police officer about the process of obtaining the accident report that they are completing. You will not be able to gather the accident report immediately. This will typically be made available in the days or weeks that follow the incident.
