Accidents involving commercial vehicles, such as delivery trucks, semi-trailers, or company vans, are a real concern on Missouri roads. Because these vehicles are much larger and heavier than standard cars, crashes often cause significant injuries and serious property damage.
The moments right after a commercial vehicle accident can be overwhelming, but knowing the steps to take can make a huge difference for your health, your safety, and your ability to pursue a St. Louis commercial vehicle accident claim later on. Here are the most important steps you can take right after:
Step 1: Call Emergency Services
After any commercial vehicle accident in St. Louis, Missouri, your first move should be to call 911. Getting police and medical personnel on the scene ensures that anyone who needs immediate medical attention receives help as soon as possible. Responding officers will also prepare an official accident report, which is a crucial piece of evidence later on. Officers will also determine if any citations should be issued. If they are, it can show that someone else was negligent, providing evidence for your case.
Step 2: Exchange Information with All Parties
It’s essential to exchange names, contact details, and insurance information with everyone involved, including the commercial vehicle driver and any witnesses. Make sure you write down the commercial vehicle’s license plate number, the company name, and details from the driver’s CDL (commercial driver’s license), if available. If there are multiple vehicles involved, get information from each driver for multiple part liability.
Avoid talking about who caused the accident, and simply collect the relevant information. This step ensures all parties have what they need to follow up after the accident and file insurance claims.
Step 3: Gather Evidence
If it’s safe to do so, take photos and videos of the accident scene, damage to all vehicles, road conditions, skid marks, and any visible injuries. Look for nearby surveillance cameras, traffic cameras, or witnesses who may have seen what happened. Gather names and contact information from those witnesses if possible.
Keeping your own detailed notes about what led to the accident and what happened right after can be incredibly helpful later on. The more thorough you are, the easier it will be for your commercial truck accident attorney in St. Louis to reconstruct the event and prove your version of events.
Step 4: Seek Medical Attention
Even if you think your injuries are minor, you should still get checked out by a doctor after a commercial vehicle accident. Some injuries, like whiplash or brain trauma, may not show symptoms right away but can become serious if left untreated.
A medical record documenting your injuries creates an official link between the accident and your condition, which can be essential to support your claim. Keep track of all your doctor visits, prescriptions, and follow-up treatments.
Step 5: Contact a St. Louis Commercial Truck Accident Lawyer
Commercial vehicle accidents often involve large companies and their insurers, making the claims process challenging to handle alone. By contacting a St. Louis truck accident lawyer as soon as possible, you’re bringing in someone who understands complex regulations, liability issues, and tactics insurance companies might use to reduce your payout.
A commercial truck accident attorney in St. Louis can guide you through the process, gather additional evidence, and work to protect your rights from the start. They can also communicate with other parties on your behalf and make sure important deadlines aren’t missed.
Step 6: Keep Track of Your Expenses and Damages
Make careful records of any costs you incur as a result of the accident, including medical bills, repair invoices, rental car fees, and even estimates for future care or losses. You should also track missed days at work and calculate any lost wages or reduced income due to your injuries. Keeping receipts, written estimates, and copies of bills in one place will help when you’re asked for proof in insurance negotiations or court.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a commercial vehicle accident in St. Louis, Missouri, you don’t have to face it alone. Contact us today to discuss your case and learn how we can help protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.