After a collision with a semi-truck in Michigan, there are several steps that accident victims can take to protect their physical safety, their legal rights, and any future injury claim they wish to file. In this article, we’ll go over what actions you should take after an accident has occurred.
Semi-truck accidents can leave you with life-changing injuries and intense financial pressures from medical bills and lost work, but you may be eligible to recover financial compensation for those losses. If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash, a Michigan semi-truck accident lawyer can help you fight for damages.
Important Actions to Take After a Michigan Semi-Truck Wreck
In 2022, there were over 15,000 accidents involving commercial vehicles. Truck accidents are often serious, and you may be in pain or be confused in the moments after the crash. If you are able to do so, though, there are some helpful steps you can take.
Seek Medical Attention
Your health is the most important priority after a crash. If you have any immediately noticeable injuries or pains or have lost consciousness even briefly, call 911 immediately for medical help.
If you do not seek emergency medical care, it is still vital to follow-up as soon as possible with a doctor. They can do diagnostic testing, such as X-rays, to properly diagnose and create a treatment plan for your injuries.
Report the Accident
Under Michigan law, you must report any accident that involves injury, death, or property damage over $1,000. Truck accidents often result in at least one of these, so it is crucial that you contact the police right away. Additionally, police officers are one of the best ways to ensure the safety of everyone involved in the accident.
Police officers on the scene will also create a police report which can be valuable evidence for your personal injury claim. The report will include the responding officer’s opinion over who is at fault for the collision, as well as information on evidence collected and statements taken at the scene. It can be submitted to the insurance company with your claim.
Gather Names and Insurance Information
Exchange contact information, insurance information, and driver’s license numbers with the truck driver and anyone else involved in the crash. If there were witnesses, ask for their information as well.
However, if the other driver seems aggressive, avoid doing this and wait for police officers to arrive on the scene.
Document the Scene
Take photos of the vehicles involved in the truck accident from multiple angles. Also include pictures of your injuries and any other environmental evidence that could be important to your claim, such as skid marks, traffic signs, or debris in the road.
Call your Insurance Company
Check your car insurance policy for its notification requirements. As a general rule, though, you should report the crash as soon as possible.
A Michigan semi-truck accident lawyer can take care of this step for you to ensure that paperwork is filed correctly and on time. They can handle communication with the insurance company on your behalf, so you can focus on recovering rather than stressful negotiations.
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What If You Were Unable to Take These Steps Due to Your Injuries?
Truck accidents have the potential to cause catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and spinal cord injuries (SCIs). These injuries may mean that you needed immediate medical care and could not focus on any details of your accident.
Don’t stress if you were unable to collect details after the crash. You still have rights and evidence can still be collected after the fact.
A Michigan semi-truck accident attorney can conduct a thorough investigation into your truck accident claim on your behalf. They can:
- Review your auto insurance policy and notify the insurer of the accident.
- Collect the evidence needed to support your case. This may include requesting information that is difficult to collect, such as a truck driver’s cell phone records, truck company documents, or video surveillance from nearby businesses or traffic cameras.
- Identify everyone who could be held responsible for the wreck. Potential defendants might include the truck driver, trucking company, cargo loading company, mechanics, parts manufacturers, and more.
- Gather the medical records, pay stubs, and other documentation needed to prove the full extent of your losses.
- Locate and interview witnesses.
- Consult with experts, such as those in highway safety or accident reconstruction.
- Handle talks with insurance adjusters so that you don’t have to.
Should I Seek Medical Treatment Even If I Am Not Injured?
You may not feel hurt after you’ve been involved in a crash. The human body releases a stress hormone called adrenaline that can mask a person’s sensation of pain or perception of injury. In addition, symptoms of some serious injuries, like concussions, may not emerge until hours, days, or even months after a wreck. For this reason, you should see a doctor right away, even if you think you are fine.
A doctor will conduct a thorough examination and identify any injuries that you sustained, even if you were unaware of them. You can then receive treatment immediately to prevent your injuries from becoming worse. Prompt treatment of some injuries, such as concussions, may also speed up recovery time.
Seeing a physician right away has a legal benefit, too. An insurer might also argue that another incident that occurred after the crash is actually the cause of your injuries. Without medical documentation linking your injury to the truck accident, these arguments could hurt your case.
What You Should Know When Talking to the Truck Company’s Insurance Adjuster
It’s likely that a representative from the truck company’s insurance company will call you immediately following the accident. They may even call you while you are still in the hospital while overwhelmed by your injuries.
Though it can be tempting to accept a quick settlement and put the truck accident behind you, don’t do it. There is simply no way to know the extent of your injuries in the hours after the crash. Settle too soon, and you may find that you won’t have nearly enough money to cover your losses and medical costs.
Here’s what you need to know about talking to the insurance company:
- You are not legally obligated to talk to the truck company’s adjuster. There may come a time when you need to make a statement, but a lawyer can handle the majority of the communications with an adjuster after a crash.
- If you do talk to the adjuster, keep it short. Don’t make apologies for the crash or make guesses about what happened. If you have chosen to retain a lawyer, simply tell the adjuster that you will be contacting a lawyer. If you already are working with a truck accident attorney, provide the adjuster with the law firm’s contact information and direct all questions there.
- Beware of other insurance company tactics. Adjusters for insurance companies are among the best in the business. They’re trained in strategies used to minimize their own liability and push the blame onto you. No matter how friendly they sound, don’t comply with any requests until you’ve had time to think them over or to speak with a lawyer.
When Should I Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer?
If you decide to hire a lawyer for your personal injury claim, the sooner you contact them the better. Complicated claims may take time to investigate, and trucking companies are not required to retain all of their records forever. Other evidence can also disappear over time, and waiting too long may mean missing out on evidence that could be vital to your case.
There are also some deadlines that can impact your claim. When seeking PIP benefits after the accident, you must file a claim with your own insurance company within one year of the accident. If you need to sue for damages because your losses exceed PIP coverage, you have three years from the date of the accident to pursue a personal injury lawsuit per Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 600.5805.
These deadlines come up quickly, and insurers and at-fault parties are not always cooperative. The sooner you can seek legal help after your accident, the sooner a lawyer can get started on file your case for damages.
PERSONAL INJURY DESERVES PERSONAL ATTENTION!
Can You Reject a Settlement Offer After a Semi-Truck Accident?
If your settlement offer is too low, you are under no legal obligation to accept it. A settlement should cover your medical expenses, lost wages, non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, and account for any long-term expenses and future medical care which may arise from your injuries.
A lawyer can offer guidance on settlement offers you receive, appeal if your claim is denied or your settlement offer is too low, and even represent you in court if needed.
You Can Afford a Michigan Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer
The long-lasting impact of injuries and trauma from a truck accident can leave you reeling. You may be worried about paying bills and getting your life back on track. You shouldn’t have to struggle to pay for legal representation when another party’s careless or reckless actions caused you harm.
We work on a contingency-fee basis because we believe that legal representation shouldn’t be another financial worry for accident victims. What this means is that you will owe us nothing upfront, and our fee will only be paid if we successfully recover compensation for your case.
Contact Our Michigan Semi-Truck Accident Lawyers Today
It’s hard to know what steps to take after a semi-truck accident in Michigan, but Christensen law is here to guide you and fight for the justice you deserve.
Our team of lawyers has an extensive record of successful case results, and we look forward to finding out how we can help. Call or contact us today for a free consultation.
