Knowing what steps to take after an accident with a UPS truck is critical to protecting the integrity of your claim. It is important to contact emergency services, seek medical attention, and document any relevant information.
A Salt Lake City UPS truck accident lawyer can guide you through the claims process.
1. Contact Emergency Services Immediately
If possible, do not try to move vehicles out of the way of traffic before police arrive to record the vehicles’ positions after a crash. The positions of the truck and your vehicle help investigators to determine what occurred and who is at fault.
Call law enforcement and summon an ambulance right away. Even if the people involved in the accident seem uninjured, they may have hidden injuries that need medical attention. Your prompt action could even save lives.
For example, internal injuries can have far-reaching consequences, and people who are in shock may not realize they are injured. If possible, avoid moving anyone out of vehicles until paramedics have assessed them for spinal injuries.
Making sure emergency personnel get involved immediately is one of the most important steps to take after an accident with a UPS truck.
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2. Decide Whether to Move Your Vehicle
When You Should Move Your Vehicle
There are some situations in which you can and should move your vehicle after an accident:
- You and your vehicle are in a dangerous position in the middle of an intersection
- The position of the vehicles may cause another accident
- Damage and injuries appear to be negligible
- Law enforcement personnel ask you to move your vehicle
If these circumstances match your situation, you should still try to record images and video – as long as doing so does not endanger yourself or anyone else.
When You Should Not or Need Not Move Your Vehicle
There are circumstances in which it would be inadvisable or impossible to move your vehicle after a collision with a UPS truck.
- If you are injured, wait for emergency services. Nobody will blame you for leaving your vehicle where it is, even if its position places other drivers at risk
- Similarly, if your vehicle cannot be moved because of the damage it sustained, you are not responsible for moving it.
- Finally, if there is any dispute about who was to blame for the accident, leaving the vehicle where it was after the collision can help investigators determine who is at fault.
Moving your vehicle, when possible, is a critical safety step to take after an accident with a UPS truck.
3. Gather Evidence from the Accident Site
Take pictures and videos of the vehicles before they are moved away. Ensure that license plate numbers are included in your shots. Ask bystanders whether they can act as witnesses and get their contact details.
Dashcam footage and video footage taken after an accident can be decisive, so find out whether anyone has recorded video evidence. Record your own video of the scene. You can pan your camera so that investigators get a more complete picture of the accident.
If the UPS truck’s driver is responsible for the accident, you can help gather evidence that indicates negligence. Local authorities and your truck accident lawyer will help investigate the accident later. For example, they can look at the driver’s record.
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4. Exchange Information with the UPS Truck Driver
Both drivers involved in an accident must disclose their names, contact details, and insurance information. Since UPS must take responsibility for accidents involving their vehicles, and the relevant insurance policy belongs to them, you may need to call their offices.
Remember: as an employee of UPS, the driver is not directly liable for damages. Instead, the company is responsible for its drivers’ behavior. Although you will be shocked and may be angry, try to remain calm throughout this exchange.
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5. Contact a Truck Accident Attorney
A Salt Lake City truck accident lawyer or a lawyer operating in your state will know what local laws and ordinances apply. They can also give you advice based on your unique circumstances. It is information that may prove vital to your long-term well-being, so follow their instructions in detail.
Your attorney will begin collecting evidence immediately, and the sooner you get in touch, the easier this task will be. Even if the case does not go to court, your lawyer will negotiate with UPS and their insurance company on your behalf.
This saves you a lot of stress. Your lawyers will handle your case from an informed perspective with your interests at heart. Although you may be in shock after your accident, you can be confident that we will represent you with skill, experience, and empathy.
6. Get a Medical Checkup
Regardless of whether you believe you are uninjured, get a professional opinion from a doctor as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours or less. Take care of your health and the health of any passengers who may have been with you when the accident occurred.
If any unusual symptoms occur in the hours or days after your accident, do not delay having them checked out. Serious or debilitating injuries like internal bleeding and whiplash do not always result in immediate symptoms.
Ask for copies of all medical records related to your accident and forward them to your attorney. They will act as evidence to support any personal injury claims they lodge on your behalf.
Why are Accidents with UPS Trucks so Common?
UPS does not have a particularly bad safety record. According to its fleet profile, it has over 100,000 vehicles on the road. Considering the sheer number of UPS trucks on the road, it is easy to see that UPS trucks will have their share of accidents.
Like other commercial drivers, UPS employees work long hours under pressure, adding stress and driver fatigue to the increased likelihood of crashes. This is not necessarily UPS’s fault, but UPS remains liable for damages if its drivers cause accidents.
The company has a robust health and safety policy that considers public safety. But accidents still happen. You can be sure that UPS insurers will try to avoid payouts unless accident victims can present a watertight case. After all, not all claims against UPS may be as well-justified as yours.
Get Help from a UPS Truck Accident Lawyer
It can be frightening to find yourself confronting a powerful organization with an accident claim. With Siegfried & Jensen’s Salt Lake City delivery truck accident lawyers on your side, you can be sure of justice. We have recovered over $1.2 billion in accident and negligence-related claims.
If you have been harmed in an accident with a UPS truck, we are here to help, and your compensation may be better than you expected. We take damages that you may not have considered into account.
Apart from damage to your vehicle and personal injuries, we will factor in loss of income, ongoing medical expenses, and pain and suffering. This will help you recover from a traumatic event, so follow our steps to take after an accident with a UPS truck.
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