What Should I Do After a Truck Accident in Minnesota?
A truck accident can be a devastating experience. You may be shocked and overwhelmed immediately after, but there are specific steps you can take that will not only be critical to your health but also your claim for compensation.
Seek Medical Care
Many truck accidents result in catastrophic injuries, which means you may be immediately transported to a hospital. As a result, seeking treatment may sound like an obvious step. However, if you escaped unscathed or your injuries seem minor, you may choose to delay seeing a doctor. Failing to seek treatment immediately after a truck accident can be a huge mistake. Certain personal injuries can have delayed symptoms. Additionally, there must be medical documentation linking your injuries and any potential injuries to the collision to ensure the at-fault party’s insurer covers expenses.
Exchange Insurance Information and Preserve Evidence
Ask the truck driver for their contact and insurance information, as well as for their trucking company. If there are any witnesses, ask if they will make a recorded statement on your phone and if you can contact them later. If you can remain at the scene, stay and document any evidence, including photos and video of the crash site, the damage to the vehicles, any debris or skid marks, items from inside your car, and your injuries. Document anything and everything, as some things may seem irrelevant at first but can become critical evidence.
Notify the Insurance Companies
Report the accident to your insurer. Since Minnesota is a no-fault state, you will first file a claim under your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. The insurance company belonging to the truck driver or their trucking company may attempt to contact you for your side of the story. Do not give a recorded statement. If you have the ability to pursue additional compensation from the at-fault driver or the trucking company, your claim can be compromised if you make a recorded statement and accidentally offer up information that can be used against you. If your injuries are severe and there is evidence of their truck driver’s fault, the insurance companies may quickly offer you a settlement to resolve your case for as little money as possible. Although it can be tempting to accept payment upfront, this figure will typically be unfairly low.
Contact a Minneapolis Truck Accident Attorney
Speak to a Minnesota truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Most will evaluate your case for free then advise you of your legal options and the best course of action. Once you hire an attorney, they will handle all aspects of your claim while you recover. Almost as soon as a truck accident occurs, the trucking company will have investigators on the scene looking for ways to minimize liability and place the blame on you or a third party. To protect your case, your attorney will immediately begin collecting critical evidence of fault to ensure you recover the compensation you deserve. They will protect your rights and handle negotiations with the insurers to reach a settlement that fully covers your losses or will fight for you in court if necessary.