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The actions you take after your Chicago truck accident can either protect or endanger your rights. To keep yourself on the safe side of the equation following a collision, be sure to seek medical attention—regardless of how you feel. You should also gather as much information as you can and resist the urge to admit fault for the crash.
These actions are just some of the ways that you can protect your rights after a truck accident. A lawyer can guide you through any other steps that could help you recover compensation for your damages.
Seek Medical Treatment
A common mistake that many accident victims make is refusing medical attention at the scene of the collision. By having their injuries detected at the scene, the accident victim draws a direct line that connects their injuries to the collision—a critical aspect of establishing liability.
Whether motivated by bravado or a sincere belief that they have not suffered injuries, these individuals have unwittingly chipped away at their potential for recovering damages.
It Is Not Too Late to See a Doctor
If you failed to receive medical attention at the accident scene, you can partially recover from this oversight by visiting with a medical provider as soon as possible. Do this even if you “feel fine” or note any injuries that require medical treatment. A medical doctor will know how to check for certain types of injuries that have not yet shown symptoms—or at least not to your knowledge.
The Benefits of Visiting a Doctor
Most importantly, the early detection of damaged organs, internal bleeding, or brain injuries (for example) will facilitate your treatment and recovery. Furthermore, by having a doctor fully document your injuries, you can gather evidence to connect your injuries to the crash. Seeking medical attention can help you protect your rights after a truck accident.
Document Everything
A personal injury case is only as strong as the evidence that supports it. When your lawyer begins to build your case, they will rely on evidence to supplement various aspects of your case.
The evidence that you and your legal team collect will need to show that:
- The other party owed you a duty to act in a way that would keep you safe.
- The other party violated their duty of care.
- The other party’s actions caused your accident.
- The accident and your injuries caused you to incur financial losses.
Your lawyer will conduct an investigation of your truck accident and gather vital pieces of information.
Evidence that Could Help Your Case
You can help your attorney’s investigative efforts by gathering as much information as possible. This may begin from the moment you visit your doctor. Anything that pertains to the crash, such as your medical bills and property damage receipts, could help your case.
Other information that could supplement your case includes:
- Photos of your injuries. If you can, take photos of your injuries. Over time, some external injuries (like cuts) can heal over time. You want to show the insurance company that you were seriously injured as a result of the crash.
- Insurance company correspondence. The insurance company may communicate with you via emails and text messages. You should keep copies of your interactions for your own personal records. Later on, if they deny something that they said, you can use their own words against them.
- Your pain journal. Take some time now to write down every detail you can recall about the collision. Be sure to include a description of how you felt physically and emotionally after the crash—both at the scene and for the days and weeks that follow.
Your lawyer can explain what other information could potentially promote your case’s success.
Do Not Apologize for the Accident
Accidents have a funny way of evoking empathy. In the swirl of heightened emotions following a crash, victims can feel a strong urge to rush forward with apologies––even if the other driver caused the accident. Resist the urge to say, “I’m sorry,” and definitely do not elaborate about how you caused or contributed to the collision.
Beware of Kind Insurance Representatives
An insurer might surprise you with a nice, empathetic call soon after the collision. This compassion may cause you to let your guard down and share information about how the accident happened. Know this: anything that you say to an insurance representative can and will be used against you. A lawyer can speak with the insurance company and provide them with the necessary information.
Avoid Talking About the Accident in General
To protect yourself further from your own words, refrain from talking about the accident with anyone—whether on social media or in personal conversations—until you have spoken with a lawyer. They can advise you on what you should and should not say.
A Lawyer Will Protect Your Rights After Your Truck Accident
The above tips represent model behavior following a crash. If you were not able to take these steps after your accident, do not be distressed. A lawyer can investigate your case and fight to get you the compensation you deserve. They can also explain how Illinois’ statute of limitations, outlined under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, applies to you.
Call The Kryder Law Group, LLC for a free case evaluation at (312) 223-1700.