Most drivers on the road manage to steer clear of construction vehicles on the road. These trucks often have signs warning other drivers not to follow behind them, and the drivers of these large vehicles are trained in using safety precautions on the road. However, accidents can happen, and they can lead to life-threatening injuries when automobiles collide with dump trucks and other large vehicles.
If you get into a construction machinery or dump truck accident with a passenger vehicle, you should know what to do whether you were driving the dump truck or the car. Here are a few steps that drivers can take after a dump truck accident:
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1. Call 911. Any accident, no matter where or when it takes place, must be reported to authorities. This is necessary for filing an accident report and communicating with insurance companies later on. This step is also necessary so you can ensure that you and anyone else involved in the incident get access to medical care.
2. Speak to insurance companies. Any accident you have should also be reported to your insurance company if you are the policy holder for that vehicle. The insurance company will investigate the incident based on the accident report and determine who was at fault in the crash. This will also determine a payout for damages, if necessary.
3. Talk to an employer. If you were the driver of a dump truck or other construction vehicle, you’ll need to let your boss know what happened. Some workers may be afraid of talking to their bosses about these incidents, but keeping evidence hidden could get you in far greater trouble than the accident itself. Make sure to communicate with your employer as soon as possible.
4. Hire a truck accident attorney. No matter who was at fault for the accident, you’ll need to speak with an attorney, especially if you or another person was injured during the collision. An attorney may also help you determine whether there were any workplace safety issues that arose that caused the incident. If you or another person was injured in the crash, you may be working with a personal injury attorney to receive compensation.
Have more questions about dump truck accidents or hiring a personal injury lawyer? Leave a comment below. Great references here.