Reports from Forbes Advisor state that there were 523,796 large truck accidents in 2021. A half million truck accidents are a matter of serious concern.
There’s another worrying thing about truck accidents. They are seldom minor. Given how large trucks are, any impact has the potential to cause devastating injuries. Sometimes even death.
As serious as truck accidents are, there is hope for victims. They can recover all the damages and losses they’ve suffered through truck accident claims.
But truck accident claims aren’t straightforward. There are numerous complications involved.
One way of tackling these complications is by hiring an experienced truck accident lawyer. These legal professionals provide all the assistance victims need to get fair compensation.
Though lawyers are useful, they require information from victims to manage a truck accident case.
This article focuses on this aspect. It lists five questions that truck accident victims can expect from their lawyers. We have mentioned the reasons why these questions are asked as well.
What are your expectations?
This is perhaps the most important question a truck accident lawyer may ask you. This is because it is important to understand what the victim is expecting in a truck accident case.
There are many reasons why a victim seeks the help of a lawyer after a truck accident. The primary reason is that the at-fault driver’s insurance company is trying to scam the victim into accepting a lower offer.
That aside, some victims approach a lawyer to drag the at-fault driver or their employer to court. The victim, being on the receiving end of injustice, wants to publicize their situation and raise awareness.
Did you visit a hospital?
Hospital visits after a truck accident are important for multiple reasons. One, they help treat the injuries you have suffered in a truck accident. Two, they help diagnose injuries that may otherwise not show any symptoms.
A trip to the hospital after a truck accident means that you suffered some kind of injury. This forms the basis of a truck accident case.
Skipping a trip to the hospital after a truck accident gives the insurance company the upper hand. They’ll deny your claim, stating that the injuries aren’t serious enough since you didn’t go to the hospital.
Did you gather any evidence?
Evidence is crucial for a successful truck accident claim. A truck accident lawyer will want to know whether you gathered any evidence immediately after the accident. Evidence here includes any of the following:
- Pictures of your injuries
- Pictures of the damaged vehicle(s)
- Pictures of the accident scene itself (elements like tire marks, damaged signs, wet roads)
- Contact information of the at-fault driver
- Pictures of the at-fault vehicle’s license plate
All these pieces of evidence play an important role in determining liability and proving that the at-fault party’s negligence caused the accident.
Did you inform the police about the accident?
All accidents need to be reported to the police. Those involved in an accident are expected to inform the police and stay at the scene of the accident. An officer will be sent to the location to investigate and prepare a police report.
The police report is an important piece of evidence in truck accident cases as it is the official confirmation of the accident. It also contains the officer’s findings about the accident.
Your truck accident case gets much more complicated if you fail to inform the police about the accident.
Were there any witnesses?
Witnesses are great for strengthening accident cases. As such, your lawyer will want to know whether there was anyone who saw the accident.
Witnesses are great for truck accidents, right from describing the events that unfolded to identifying the at-fault driver.
As a victim, it is important to collect the contact information of witnesses and ask for their willingness to help.
Conclusion
Truck accident claims can be tricky, considering the number of potentially liable parties and all the complications involved. Trying to handle the legal aspect of a truck accident while recovering from your injuries can be an impossible task.
This is why you must hire a lawyer. With their help, you can get all the help you need to win the compensation you deserve.
