What To Do When A Tractor-Trailer Accident Happens

Sometimes even with your best efforts to avoid a tractor trailer accident, you end up involved with one. Above all else, you must remain calm. You will be no help to yourself or anyone else if you’re running around in a panic after a tractor trailer accident. Instead, take a few deep breaths, and keep safety for yourself and everyone around you as the priority.

Here’s what you need to do when a tractor trailer accident happens:

• Consider the Safety of the Accident Scene: If you believe you may be seriously injured, try not to move until help arrives. If your injuries are minor, take a quick look around at the accident scene. If there are life threatening emergencies or immediate dangers (like a car on fire, or the potential for oncoming traffic to hit someone) take care of that immediately. If possible, get your car off the road to avoid secondary accidents. Call 911 and do what you can for anyone with a life threatening emergency while you are waiting for help to arrive.
• Receive Help: If you have any injuries at all through the tractor trailer accident, no matter how minor you believe them to be, allow the paramedics or other emergency personnel to help you. If you know of others injured in the tractor trailer accident, point the emergency team to them.
• Report Facts to Police: Relay the facts of the tractor trailer accident to the police for the report, to the best of your ability, while being mindful not to admit fault. If you are anxious or overly upset over the accident, you can let the police know you don’t feel you are able to provide accurate information at this time and they can talk to you later once you’ve had an opportunity to calm down and get yourself together.
• Call Your Insurance Company: Inform the insurance company of the accident and find out what else they need you to do as far as the vehicle recovery goes. Some insurance companies will send a team to the scene of the accident.
• Get Information From Other People at Accident: Get insurance information from everyone involved in the accident. Get their full names and contact information. Make a note of how each person appears at the accident (injured, fatigued, etc). Obtain the license plate and condition of each vehicle involved. Describe the scene of the accident and get documentation for any injuries you’ve experienced.