I Was Hit By a Large Truck While Driving in Buffalo, New York – What Should I Do?

Accidents involving commercial trucks can cause severe injuries, expensive hospitalization bills, extensive property damage, and more. To seek compensation for your damages, you must navigate the accident carefully to protect your rights and liability claim. When you’re ready to build your case, contact a truck accident lawyer in Buffalo, New York, at Cantor, Wolff, Nicastro & Hall LLC. 

Call 911 or Local Authorities

Call 911 or your local police station directly after the accident. We recommend calling 911 if you or other parties have any injuries that require immediate attention. If you’re not severely injured, you still must call your local police station to report the accident. 

You should follow the advice from emergency responders to protect your case. For example, if the paramedics advise you to go to the emergency room for your injuries, you should do so, as ignoring this recommendation can complicate your case later on, creating additional challenges for your truck accident lawyer in Buffalo, New York. 

When the police arrive, they will file an accident report. This report will serve as key evidence for your case and help insurance adjusters with accident reconstruction.  

Gather Contact, Insurance, and Employer Information

After the accident, we recommend speaking with the involved parties to request a few key details, including the following:

• Contact information
• Licenses
• Insurance details
• Employer information (for commercial vehicle drivers)

If possible, try gathering these details from the other driver, passengers, and nearby witnesses. The police report should also outline some of this information.

Collect Evidence

If you’re able to, we recommend gathering as much evidence as you can from the accident scene before leaving. The more evidence you gather, the more your truck accident lawyer in Buffalo, New York, will have to work with during the settlement negotiation process. 

Take photos of your injuries and all physical damages to your vehicle and the other party’s vehicle. You can also take photos of the road conditions (potholes, faded paint, etc.) and traffic conditions (red lights, stop signs, speed limits, etc.) at the time. 

Contact Your Insurance and Speak With Adjusters Carefully

Report the accident to your insurance provider as soon as possible. Your provider will contact the other party’s insurer on your behalf, beginning the claims process. 

At some point, adjusters from the other party’s insurance company may call you to ask questions about the accident. You should avoid providing details, as minor missteps can cause you to assume liability unintentionally. You may answer questions vaguely or simply say you’re unsure of the accident details until you’ve spoken with your attorney. 

Follow Through With Recommended Medical Treatments

As you attend doctor’s appointments for your injuries, be sure to follow through with all of the recommended treatments, procedures, and therapies. Avoiding doctor recommendations can harm your personal injury case, as insurers may argue that you assumed partial liability for your injury by neglecting your care. 

Be sure to keep all records of medical appointments, hospitalization bills, treatment costs, and associated documents for compensation purposes later on. 

Call a Truck Accident Attorney Today

In the wake of a truck accident, it helps to seek legal representation for your case as soon as possible. A personal injury or wrongful death attorney can help you gather evidence, negotiate with insurers, and seek maximum compensation for your losses. 

If you were injured in a truck accident, call Cantor, Wolff, Nicastro & Hall LLC today at (716) 848-8000 or fill out our form to speak with a truck accident lawyer in Buffalo, New York.