Steps to Take After a Arizona Semi Truck Crash

Arizona semi truck accidents occur on a daily basis, and when they do the majority of them lead to at least one injury. If this has happened to you or to someone you love, there are certain steps you should take to protect your legal rights should the aftermath of the crash involve litigation by way of an AZ personal injury lawsuit. If you are unsure of how to proceed, your first step should be to contact an experienced Arizona semi truck accident lawyer. Below are some suggestions regarding how you should handle the aftermath of a crash.

Get to Safety at the Scene of the Semi Truck Accident

The first thing you should do if you’re involved in an Arizona semi truck crash is to get yourself and anyone in your vehicle to safety if possible. If anyone appears to injured to be moved, then you should err on the side of caution and leave that person where he or she is unless doing so presents even greater danger. The most obvious safe area after such a crash is off to the side of the road. If you can move your vehicle safely to that area do so, but if you cannot, simply leave your vehicle and walk.

Contact Arizona Authorities to the Accident Scene

Your very next step should be to contact the authorities so that they can report to the crash scene and complete a report. This police report could be critical evidence as you move to protect your legal rights, and rescue personnel will arrive if you report injuries to provide the necessary medical care. You should report that there was an Arizona semi truck crash, where and when it occurred, whether there were any injuries and how serious those injuries seem to be when you make contact. You should not assume that someone else will contact the authorities, as they will be able to sort out the situation if multiple calls regarding the same semi truck crash arrive.

Exchange Information and Insurance with the Semi Truck Driver

After everyone is as safe as possible and you have contacted the authorities to report the Arizona semi truck crash, you should politely attempt to make contact with the semi truck driver who was involved. The scope of this conversation should not extend beyond attempting to obtain the following information:

1. The driver’s name
2. The driver’s trucking company employer
3. The driver’s insurance information
4. The state in which the driver is registered to drive and in which the semi truck is registered

You can provide your name and insurance coverage information as well, but you should not, under any circumstances attempt to discuss the specifics of the Arizona semi truck accident that has just occurred. In addition, if the semi truck driver is agitated or is unwilling to exchange this information, simply wait for the authorities to arrive and this issue will be handled at that time.

Speak to the AZ Authorities About the Accident

When the authorities arrive, you should speak to them immediately so that you can provide a statement that will help to complete the police or accident report. Once again, do not argue your case to the officer or officers, but merely provide a factual account of what occurred and what you think led to this Arizona semi truck crash. Cooperate with the authorities if they request any information regarding your name, insurance information or vehicle registration, and make sure that anyone who needs medical assistance obtains it.

Seek Medical Attention No Matter What

There are many injuries that can be suffered by someone that are extremely dangerous in nature that may not immediately seem serious. Specifically, some forms of traumatic brain injuries may seem like nothing more than a bump on the head when in fact a person’s life is in danger. Therefore, make sure that you obtain a full medical evaluation after an Arizona semi truck crash to make sure that you are not in a situation of risk.

Contact an Phoenix Semi Truck Crash Lawyer

Finally, after all of the immediate details that follow the Arizona semi truck crash in question are properly handled, contact an experienced Arizona semi truck crash lawyer as soon as possible to schedule a free initial consultation. You will need help filing your insurance claim and handling any of the initial legal steps that are necessary to make sure that you recover the compensation you are owed because of the accident that occurred that was not your fault. Do not attempt to contact or negotiate with any insurance company by yourself.

Instead, you should allow an Phoenix semi truck crash lawyer to handle all of these steps for you to make sure that your position is maximized. If this has happened to you or someone you love, contact Phillips Law Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.