How to Win Your Next Truck Accident Case
Truck accidents have proved to cause some of the most devastating scenes on the road. The weight of a loaded track makes it practically impossible to stop once it has lost control, and the destruction it can cause is often times unquantifiable.
If you have been on the receiving end of a truck accident, then this article is for you. We will go into details on the aspects you should concentrate on to ensure that your case goes through, and that you get the compensation you deserve.
The outcome of your case largely depends on what you do immediately the crash happens. However, the need to get compensated should not make you expose yourself to obvious risks at the accident scene. So, after evaluating your own condition and that of the others involved in the accident, you should do the following immediately:
Call 911
After the accident has happened, get through to the emergency service through 911. Often times, your survival and that of the others depends on how fast the emergency services can get into the accident scene.
If your injuries are minor, check on the other people involved in the crash before the emergency team arrives. If you have first-aid skills, utilize them to try and save some lives.
For legal purposes, you should ensure that you get a copy of the police report as it will be paramount in the court of law.
Get Medical Attention
Most people make a mistake of walking away without seeking medical examination if the injuries are minor. Unknown to them, some injuries have delayed symptoms and might take toil on them later on.
The worst thing about the delayed symptoms is that by the time they are revealing themselves, the damage has already been done. Immediate check-up ensures that any hidden fracture, injury, or abnormality is diagnosed and treated on time.
Seeking medical attention makes it easy to link your injuries with the accident. Most insurance companies are always reluctant to compensate for the injuries reported days after the accident has occurred.
A medical report is as important in court as the police report.
Documenting the Accident Facts
You should only document the evidence if your health allows you to. If the crash happened in a major, busy highway, it is advisable to wait for the police to arrive as it would be safe to gather the evidence then. If the road is not busy, and your health allows it, you can go ahead and start gathering your evidence.
Gathering evidence involves taking photos and videos, checking for any witness testimony, and recording both the road and the weather conditions. Photos and videos, especially those capturing weather or road conditions could help prove that the truck driver or anyone else that caused the accident indeed had low visibility, or the road was slippery.
Before leaving the scene, ensure you have the following:
- The name, physical address, and contact number of the driver involved
- The insurance company covering the track (including the policy number)
- The name of the trucking company
- The license plate number of the truck
- Truck driver’s license number
Gather Witness Statements and Contact Information
Anyone who sees the crash unfold qualifies as a prospect witness. Be it a bystander, a passenger in another vehicle, or even an occupant of another car—anyone of upright mind and cognitive ability can be a key witness in your case.
If the police are at the scene, they would be best placed to record the witness statements. However, you should ensure that you have your own version of the witness statement just in case there are some obvious errors in the police statement.
If the police are conducting any investigation, ensure you inform your truck accident lawyer Michigan about it.
Have Your vehicle Appraised
Trucks cause enormous damage on standard vehicles in the event of an accident. It is critical to note the extent to which the accident has damaged your vehicle.
However, ensure that any appraisal is done by an automobile repair outlet that meets all the government standards. It would help if you obtained a list of repair shops that have already been approved by the insurer.
Conclusion
The success in any truck accident case largely depends on how well your legal team is prepared. The above requisites will be a great addition to your claim.
