West Virginia is well-known for its physical beauty, including lush valleys and mountain ranges. While visitors and tourists flock to the state every year to take road trips, others also depend on its thoroughfares.
Many commercial trucks use the West Virginia route to carry cargo daily, and most of those drivers have tight schedules and deadlines. Unfortunately, a combination of trucks and other car drivers on the roadways may result in catastrophic or serious accidents.
When that happens, and you get involved in a truck accident in this state, there are steps you will need to take. Some of these steps include the following:
- Check for the Injuries
One of the things you must do following a truck accident in the state is to check whether you have sustained injuries. If you have sustained injuries that need proper medical attention, ask the people around you to take you to the hospital. But if you can, go to a nearby hospital. Even if it seems you’ve not been injured, seeking medical care will still be great. Some injuries may not be apparent right away and may develop over time.
- Contact an Attorney
You might be in shock after a truck accident and unable to recall all the steps you need to take. At such a time, don’t just contact your friend or family. Also, contact a reliable Morgantown truck accident lawyer to guide you every step of the way.
- Dial 911
In a minor or major truck accident, it would be best to dial 911 and report the accident, detailing what happened. A police report of the truck accident will prove that the incident happened.
You might have difficulty getting compensation if you fail to report the accident. When talking to police officers, don’t admit fault. Only state facts, like the directions of vehicles involved in the accident, were when the accident happened.
- Gather Evidence
Scenes of an accident are often cleaned up quickly, but they might hold crucial information, which you must collect if possible. For instance, taking pictures showing the vehicles’ position, skidmarks’ presence, and the location of the quad rail related to the incident will be helpful information that can help with your case.
You might not know why or how the truck accident happened in the first place, but gathering evidence will help your lawyer build a very strong case that proves the truck driver’s negligence.
- Contact Your Insurer
Many insurance policies in West Virginia need their clients to contact the company when an accident happens, including a truck crash. Under the insurer’s contract, you must notify the company and cooperate. Even if you didn’t cause the truck accident or the truck driver tells you that things are under control, you still have to notify your insurer.
Experiencing a sudden truck accident in West Virginia is a very traumatic experience. However, it would be best to keep in that there are avenues for recovering from property damage and personal injuries. An excellent way to protect yourself is to contact a professional truck accident lawyer in the state to represent you.
