10 Documents to Have When Meeting Truck Accident Lawyers

Did you know that 20 to 50 million people globally suffer accident-related injuries every year?

All accident victims have the right to get justice. Though overwhelming, the victims who report the case and initiate their claims early get compensated for the loss and injuries.

Truck accident lawyers help people who have been injured by trucks. When the accident happens, you should inform your lawyer, and carry along some documents to prove your case.

The documents provide evidence that the accident indeed took place, and it affected your health or income somehow. Here is a comprehensive list of those vital documents which you should take to your truck accident lawyer.

You may also like: Injured? Here’s How to Tell If You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer

1. Table of Contents

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   A Police Report

Police are always among the first people to know of the accident and visit the scene. When they visit, they protect the scene and examine the effects of the accidents. The police may also interview accident victims if they don’t have severe injuries.

After the inspection, the police should write a report regarding the accident. The report confirms the accident, the venue, and the number of injured people by the truck accident.

The police report should also indicate the number of cars involved in the accident and their respective number plates.

After gathering the information, the police write their remarks regarding whom they think was at fault, and if the traffic laws were violated. The report is then signed and sealed.

The police should give you a copy of that report to take to your lawyer. So, if you don’t see a police officer at the accident scene, visit the station or call them to write you the report.

2. The Accident Scene Information

Your truck accident lawyer should get detailed information on the accident scene happenings. The police report may not include everything, and that’s why you should have your own document to build your case.

Here are some of the things which you might include in your accident scene document:

• The cars involved in the accidents and their number plates
• The names of the witnesses and other people who were present at the time of the accident
• The contact addresses of the drivers and the witnesses
• Photos and videos of the accident scene, including the visible injuries on cars

The photos and videos support the written words. Without them, your insurance firms or the court may argue that what you have written is untrue, mainly if you don’t have visible injuries.

You may even record the witnesses and include their audios in your evidence. If you don’t have a camera or can’t take the photos, you may assign someone else to take the photo on your behalf.

And if you don’t succeed in taking the photos, you may follow up with your state’s local authorities to print the pictures recorded by the road cameras.

3. Medical Documents

It’s advisable to seek medical help after an accident, even if you don’t have physical injuries. You may have sustained internal wounds that may later develop to severe complications.

If you are insured, you may visit the hospitals listed by your insurance firms or any other reputable hospital with experienced doctors.

The doctors should examine your body and carry out the necessary x-rays. As part of your evidence, you should keep all the medical documents for the x-rays, physical examination, and medications you get at the hospital.

The truck accident lawyer will use those documents to determine how much money you spent at the hospital and estimate the best compensation for your injury.

Your documents should include the payment receipts and the voice recordings of vital conversations with the doctor.

4. Insurance Policy Copy

Your truck accident lawyer should review your insurance policies if you are insured. When reviewing, the attorney will check if the policy is still valid or it’s expired. They will also confirm the type of coverage you pay to know if it applies to your case.

The essential insurance policies which the attorney may need include health and auto insurances. You can also attach your payment proof receipts to show that you have been paying your premiums.

Some insurance firms can be a hard nut to crack, but the experienced truck lawyer can deal with them if you provide the right documents. Don’t hesitate to attach your bank statements, cash payments receipts, and even the check proving your premium payments.

5. Correspondence From Your Insurers

It’s imperative to inform your insurance companies about the accident. You may report the case immediately after getting your hospital help. After reporting, your insurers should give a correspondence to your quest.

Ideally, they should get your personal information, including your name, address, date of the accident, etc. After that, they should check your name in their database to know the type of coverage you have been paying for and if it can cover the truck accident.

As an informed person, you should record all the confessions you make with the insurer. You should also note their answer to your case. If they refute the claim, forward the response to your lawyer.

The lawyer will review the correspondence to make an informed decision. Maybe, your insurance firm is refusing to take the compensation responsibility against the law.

Just collect the information, and leave the remaining work to the attorney. The lawyer will make the necessary follow-ups to see you get timely compensation for your injury.

6. Salary Records

At times, you may need to take a break from work after being involved in a truck accident. Work absenteeism could mean that you will not get any salary, mainly if you are paid in commissions.

Your truck accident lawyer should determine the amount of income you have lost due to the accident. From the basic salary to the work benefits, the lawyer can add all remunerations to help you get what you deserve.

Your salary records could include your tax records payments, your recent payroll documents, and so on. Just make sure that you provide the right documents because you might complicate the case if you lie.

If your injuries are severe, you may instruct the attorney to help you collect those payment receipts from work, home, or the relevant bodies.

7. Personal Timeline and Account

A personal timeline is like a diary. It is a document that shows your thoughts regarding your accident.

In this document, you can write what happened before the accident, how the experience affected you, your children, family, and so on.

Has the accident caused emotional trauma, weird dreams, or loss of appetite? If yes, then write that in your diary so that your truck accident lawyer can know how to handle your case.

Some of the narratives you write there can build your case and help you get the right compensation. Just make sure that your narratives are correct, and that they relate to the case.

8. Accident Related Expenses

Your lawyer should know of the expenses that you have incurred as a result of the accident. Besides the medical costs, there are other added costs that the accident may subject you to. For instance, maybe you have hired new helpers in your home to help you.

Or perhaps, you have been taking a special diet; your survival expense has gone high, and so on. Those are accident-related expenses, and they should be included in your compensation checklist.

Note everything and keep the receipts where necessary. Take them to your truck accident lawyer to add them up with the other expenses.

9. Vehicle Damage Estimates

Your lawyer should know the loss estimates which the accident has brought forth to your vehicle. The losses can be added to your claim to increase your compensation.

However, the lawyer should also know the current worth of your vehicle. You should present the vehicle’s logbook, the car purchase receipts, the car service and maintenance records, etc.

That information will make it easier to estimate the damages on the car. And if the car is damaged beyond repair, then your logbooks and service receipts will help make the right price estimation to get a new car.

If you repaired the car at your expense, attach the receipts for the repair expenses so that you can get fair compensation.

10. Private Investigations Reports

Any person involved in the accident can provide a confidential investigation report. For instance, one of the drivers involved in the accidents might investigate to know the party at fault.

A company may also investigate to know the cause of accidents, traffic violations, etc.

These reports are vital, and they can be more detailed than the police report. They can help you identify the driver at fault, and thus, clear your name from the mess.

Get in touch with the other accident victims to know if they have a confidential investigation report. If it’s there, gets a copy of the same and forward it to your truck accident lawyer. The documents will strengthen your case.

Tell Your Story to Experienced Truck Accident Lawyers

It is normal to be overwhelmed when you have been involved in a truck accident. However, you should not let the fear and nervousness stop you from getting the justice you deserve.

Find reputable truck accident lawyers today and tell them your story. The right professional will walk you through the lawsuit journey to help you get compensation.

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