Determining Fault In An Accident

Truck Accident Aftermath: What To Do Before Calling An Attorney

If you were recently in an accident with a commercial truck or vehicle, there may be some confusion on who owes you for your damages and injuries. Gather the following information after the accident to ensure you can track down the responsible party so you get what you are owed.

Company Details

Sometimes drivers will try to avoid giving you information on their employer because they fear job repercussions following an accident. It is up to you to insist on receiving all info just in case anything is missing on the accident or police report. This means collecting the driver's full name, the company name, the plate number, insurance information, and any license numbers. If the driver won't share the company name and it isn't on the vehicle, get the plate number at a minimum. A lawyer can use this information to track down the owner of the vehicle, which is likely the employer of the driver.

Accident Reports

In most cases some form of accident report will be filed if an officer is called to the scene. If the accident is minor and emergency services aren't called, it is up to you to make sure a report is filed after the fact. Stop by a local police department as soon as possible following the accident and fill out a full report. This should include the circumstances of the accident, the details of everyone involved, any witnesses you have contact details on, and the road conditions at the time of the accident. It's a good idea to also have photographs of the accident scene, including one of the truck that hit you. Take photographs from several different angles if possible so an attorney can recreate the scene later if necessary.

Fault Issues

The above information is vital to deciding fault and liability in a case. Keep in mind, just because a truck hit you doesn't necessarily make the driver at fault. If driver negligence cannot be proven, then the driver may not be held at fault for your damages, injuries, or other losses. There are also some car driving behaviors that are considered the cause of a car and truck accident. For example, if you were driving in a known blindspot, or "no zone," you may be found at fault.

In some cases, the driver may not be considered at fault but the company that employs the driver may be found at fault if they own the truck and there were issues with it that lead to the accident. This is why it is vital that you collect as much information on the accident as possible before meeting with a truck accident attorney.

For more information, contact a professional like Teresa P Williams PA.


Share