Police are searching for a truck driver after a commercial vehicle crash with a bicyclist left one person dead.
The accident happened on June 28th along the North Sam Houston Parkway East service road and West Hardy Road in Houston, Texas.
According to ABC 13, a man was riding a bike on the feeder road when he was struck by a passing semi truck. The truck driver kept going and the incident was reported by a witness who stopped to call 911.
The 53-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are now searching for the truck driver, who has been accused of failing to stop to render aid.
What to do if you caused a car accident?
1. Evaluate your injuries and those of your passengers
If you have serious injuries, call out for help and try to make yourself as visible as possible. Call 911 and wait for the ambulance and paramedics to treat your wounds before or else you could accidentally make your injuries worse.
Even if you think you feel okay, injuries such as concussions and whiplash may take several days to appear. Visit the ER or at least schedule a post-accident visit with your primary care physician in order to better protect your health, as well as document your injuries.
2. Move your vehicle to the side of the road or any area that reduces your risk of being hit by oncoming traffic
Maintaining visibility is important following an accident. Put your hazards on and make sure that your vehicle isn’t in an area where other drivers may not be able to see.
3. Call the police
Believe it or not, calling the police after an accident you caused is actually legal protection for yourself. The police record is the best way to provide official documentation as to the extent of the injuries and damage to the vehicles. If the police choose to not file a report, this is helpful evidence that the accident was a minor one.
4. Exchange information
If you caused a car accident, it’s important to provide your insurance information to the other party. However, NEVER admit fault for the accident.
Collect the insurance information from the other driver, even if you think you were to blame for the accident. If a personal injury lawsuit takes place, you may learn that the other driver committed a wrongdoing, too.
5. Document the scene of the accident
Even if you’re in a minor accident or the police completed a report, it never hurts to treat your accident as a potential legal claim. With that mindset, you need to collect evidence to minimize your potential liability should you be sued for the accident.
When documenting an accident, try to collect witness statements. If any drivers pulled over or pedestrians witnessed the accident, ask for their names and contact information. Their testimony may be needed later if the accident turns into a personal injury case.
You also should take photographs of the accident. Use your phone to take pictures of the damage to your car and injury. Take pictures of the surrounding area as the location of your accident could impact your liability.
Say, for example, you caused an accident by failing to stop at a stop sign. If the sign is overrun with foliage and difficult to see, your liability could be reduced or removed.