Accidents involving commercial vehicles — like delivery trucks, company cars, or tractor-trailers — are different from typical fender benders. Multiple parties may be involved, and the insurance process can get complicated fast. Knowing what to do in the immediate aftermath can significantly affect your recovery.
Step 1: Prioritize Safety and Call for Help
Move to a safe location if possible and call 911 immediately. Request medical assistance even if you don't feel seriously injured — many injuries have delayed symptoms. A police report will also serve as an official record of the accident.
Step 2: Exchange and Gather Information
Collect the following at the scene:
- Driver's name, license number, and contact information
- Employer or company name and contact information
- Vehicle identification and DOT number (usually on the door or cab)
- Insurance carrier and policy number
- Names and contact info of any witnesses
Step 3: Photograph Everything
Use your phone to document all vehicle damage, the accident scene, road conditions, any visible injuries, and the commercial vehicle's markings and license plates. This visual evidence can be invaluable later.
Step 4: Seek Medical Evaluation
Visit an emergency room or urgent care center as soon as possible. Whiplash, concussions, and soft tissue injuries often don't manifest immediately. Getting checked out creates a medical record that ties your injuries to the accident.
Step 5: Do Not Speak to the Company's Insurance Adjuster Alone
Commercial carriers' insurers are experienced at minimizing claims. Do not give a recorded statement or sign any documents before consulting with an attorney. Anything you say can be used to reduce your settlement.
Step 6: Contact a West Virginia Personal Injury Attorney
Time-sensitive evidence — like black box data, driver logs, and surveillance footage — can disappear quickly. An attorney can act immediately to preserve this evidence and protect your rights.
Persinger & Persinger offers free consultations and works on a contingency basis — meaning you pay nothing unless we win. Call us today.