Large trucks and commercial vehicles can easily cause catastrophic injuries in any wreck.  They are far heavier, bigger, and harder to control and stop than typical passenger vehicles.  Victims of these crashes can be seriously injured, permanently disabled, or killed.  Families impacted by these traumatic events can also face mounting medical expenses, loss of wages or the ability to earn money, and struggle with finding and paying for rehabilitative medical care.

If you or a loved one were injured in an accident involving a truck, it is important to consider your next steps carefully.  Making the right choices immediately after a wreck could make all the difference for your personal injury case and greatly affect the level of compensation you receive.

Here are a few steps you should take after a wreck:

1. Seek Medical Treatment

After a serious wreck, visiting the doctor should be a top priority if you are hurt.  Even if you feel only slightly injured, undergoing a comprehensive medical assessment is still a crucial step – for you and your case.  Some serious, even life-threatening, injuries are not always apparent after a crash.  Let a medical professional decide whether your injuries require more care.  Some symptoms take time to manifest.  Failing to document all of your injuries right after a truck crash may create issues in your personal injury case.  For example, opposing parties may argue that your injuries are not as severe as you say or not even related to crash.

2. Document the Scene

If you are physically able to, you should do your best to document the crash scene.  Gathering crash evidence immediately after a wreck can prove invaluable when disputes arise as to what happened in the crash.  For instance, you should take photographs of the crash site, vehicles involves, your injuries, and any other elements that could help demonstrate liability. Other useful evidence can include the contact details of eyewitnesses, surveillance camera footage, dashcam videos, and copies of the official police accident report.

3. Take Your Recovery Seriously

Undergoing a medical assessment is just one step in your overall recovery. You will also need to make sure you follow all of your doctor’s orders, participate in any recommended therapy or imaging, and show up to each of your follow up visits.  Failing to do so could result in your condition worsening and the insurer disputing your claim, arguing that you failed to mitigate your damages, or questioning the overall veracity of your injuries.

4. Lay Low on Social Media

A crash is almost always a traumatic experience, so it is only natural that you may want to share details of your crash on social media.  Before posting, however, consider how your online activity might be perceived or affect your case. Any posts discussing the wreck could be misinterpreted, taken out of context, or used to challenge your credibility. Even pictures could be used to argue that you are exaggerating your injuries or ignoring your doctor’s orders.

Discuss Your Case with a Miami Truck Accident Attorney

Were you left seriously hurt after a large truck crash? At Viñas & DeLuca, PLLC we have more than 35 years of combined legal experience representing accident victims throughout the State of Florida. Our legal team can review your case as part of a free consultation, answer any questions you may have, and help guide you through what might happen in the weeks ahead. Dial (305) 372-3650 or head over to our contact form HERE to lock in a free case review with a Florida truck accident attorney.