What should I do after a truck accident?
If you have been involved in a truck accident, you may be unsure of what to do next. You may decide that filing a lawsuit against the truck driver and trucking company responsible for the accident is in your best interest. If that is the case, an experienced legal professional may be able to help you with your suit. However, before you go further, there is certain information that you will need to gather.
First, you will need information about the trucking company and the driver such as names, license plate numbers and license numbers. Next, you will want to focus on details of the accident itself. You will need to determine how exactly the accident occurred and find out if any of the drivers involved were cited for traffic violations. You will want to get a copy of the police report if one was filed. You will want to collect pictures of the scene and of the damages that occurred. You will also want contact information of the witnesses and those involved. The more detailed you are, the better your chances of winning your lawsuit.
If you are filing suit against those involved in the accident, it is likely that you or a loved one is suffering from significant injuries. If that is the case, you need to gather as much medical information as possible. You will need to know your symptoms, your immediate diagnosis after the crash and what treatments you initially received. You will also need medical records to show any X-rays you had taken or any follow-up treatments that you received. You will also need to know your past medical history and if you had suffered any similar injuries in the past.
If there is property damage, you will need to know details about your vehicle including the condition of the car. It would in your best interest to collect photos of your vehicle both before and after the accident. You will also need financial information about yourself, including details about your employment, wage information and insurance information.
If you collect this information, you will make the job of a personal injury attorney a little bit easier. They will be able to get working on your case sooner.
Source: FindLaw, “Five Things to Research Before Meeting a Truck Accident Attorney,” accessed on May 31, 2016