Knowing what to do after a truck accident in Tennessee can help protect both your health and your potential claim against a negligent truck driver and the trucking company that employed them. An attorney from The Terry Law Firm can guide you through the steps to take after a Tennessee truck accident and manage your claim while you focus on healing.
What to Do at the Scene of a Tennessee Truck Crash
Do you know what to do after a semi-truck accident in Tennessee? The steps you take can significantly affect what happens next. Here are some immediate steps to take at the scene:
- Call 911 to summon emergency services to the scene.
- Seek immediate medical attention even if you initially do not think you suffered serious injuries.
- Do not apologize for the crash or downplay your injuries.
- Contact our truck accident lawyers as soon as possible so we can launch an investigation and secure potential evidence, such as truck driver logs, electronic data from black boxes, and videos, for example.
If you can do so safely, get the following details and share them with your truck accident lawyer:
- The truck driver’s name, license, and insurance information
- Photographs of the tractor and trailer from several angles, including the license plates, unit numbers, company name, USDOT number, and any other identifying markings
- Contact information from any witnesses
- Photos of the roadway, vehicle damage, cargo, skid marks, traffic signs, and nearby traffic signals
Who Is Already Investigating Your Truck Crash?
Trucking companies and their insurers may begin investigating a serious commercial motor vehicle crash within hours after the accident happened. They may send adjusters, truck accident investigators, attorneys, or accident reconstruction professionals to the accident scene and start gathering records before you even leave the hospital. The insurer’s early response in a truck accident investigation can put the company in a stronger position to defend against your claim.
For that reason, you need to be smart about what you do after the crash. In the first few days, be careful about giving recorded statements, signing releases, or authorizing broad access to your medical records. Provide necessary information to law enforcement, but do not speculate on the cause or who was at fault. Speak with our truck accident attorneys before you sign any documents or discuss fault, injuries, or settlement options with the trucking company’s insurance company.
Filing Your Own Crash Report with the State of Tennessee
Reporting the crash to the police doesn’t always satisfy your own reporting obligations after a Tennessee truck accident.
If you were the owner or driver of a vehicle involved in a crash resulting in injury or death, more than $1,500 in property damage to any person, or more than $400 in damage to state or local government property, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security requires you to file an Owner Operator Report. The Owner Operator Report includes details about the driver and vehicle owner, the crash, property damage, and liability insurance coverage.
How long do you have to report an accident under Tennessee law? You must do so within 20 days of the crash. The requirement applies regardless of who caused the crash and is separate from the responding police officer’s report. Failing to file an Owner Operator Report can have consequences beyond leaving the state agency without your version of the crash. If you don’t file a report, it may result in the suspension of your driver’s license and vehicle registrations. Non-residents may be temporarily barred from driving in Tennessee.
Get a Free Case Review from The Terry Law Firm
If you got hurt in a truck accident, turn to The Terry Law Firm for representation from a skilled truck accident attorney. We have over 90 years of combined experience and can help you file your Tennessee truck accident claim while meeting all applicable requirements and deadlines.
Contact us now to arrange a free consultation about your truck accident case with an experienced personal injury attorney. We want to help you pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses after a commercial trucking crash.
