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Immediate Steps to Take After a Truck Accident

Apr. 30 2019 Articles By Gabrielli Truck Sales

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What to Do After a Truck Accident

Every year, there are about 50,000 truck accidents. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Large Truck Crash Causation Study, 87 percent of truck accidents are due to driver error. Many of these accidents are caused by drivers of passenger vehicles that do not know how to drive safely around truck drivers or who are distracted. Due to the high number of truck accidents, if you are part of a truck driving operation, it is likely that you will need to know what to do after a truck accident. Gabrielli Truck Sales can help you after you or your operation is affected by a collision.

Report the Accident

Due to the large size of the vehicle, truck accidents often result in serious injuries. Check yourself and the occupants in the other vehicle for any injuries and render aid. Then, report the accident to the authorities. It is important to take this step so that a law enforcement officer responds to the accident scene to conduct an objective investigation to determine if factors like distracted driving, impaired driving, driving in blind spots or driving in the space between the truck and the curb when the truck was turning contributed to the accident. Ask for a copy of the report and keep this for your records.

Document the Scene

Because the accident scene will be quickly cleaned up, it is important to document the scene as much as possible. Take pictures of the accident scene and exchange information with the other driver. Some pictures to include are:

  • The accident scene from different angles
  • Damage to all vehicles involved in the accident
  • Any other property damage
  • Skid marks on the roadway
  • Your injuries
  • Debris on the roadway, including any truck parts

Gabrielli Truck Sales can help you with new parts and the repair of your truck after a collision.

Seek Medical Attention

If you were injured in the accident, be sure that you seek medical attention. Taking this step is crucial to protecting your health and any claim that you or your company may have against the at-fault driver. Keep documentation of all medical records, including:

  • Doctor's notes
  • Surgery notes
  • Pictures of your injuries
  • Bills
  • Prescriptions
  • Progress notes

Repair Your Vehicle

When your livelihood is at stake, you don't want to delay getting the vehicle repaired. You will want to take your vehicle to a professional commercial truck body shop like Gabrielli Truck Sales, which has extensive experience repairing commercial trucks. A professional truck repair shop like Gabrielli Truck Sales can quickly and safely repair your vehicle with services such as:

  • Truck body repair
  • Frame straightening
  • Fiberglass and sheet metal repair
  • Precision wheel alignment
  • Computerized paint mixing for precise color match

If you decide to replace the vehicle, you can choose from an extensive list of new trucks or used trucks that you can view directly in our online inventory. We also offer the option to rent or lease trucks for your fleet. Fill out our online contact form to find out how the experienced representatives at Gabrielli can help you after a collision.