If you have been in an auto accident with a tractor-trailer, there may be several parties responsible for paying your damages.
Trucking accidents are different from other types of vehicle accidents. As they are typically more serious due to the heavier weight of trucks and the hazardous materials they transport, those who are in trucking accidents usually have more severe or even fatal outcomes than in other auto accidents.
To ensure that you collect for your damages and injuries, it is important that you have the essential information that your attorney will need to prove your case in court.
Discussing Your Car Accident Case
The good news is that most St. Louis auto accident attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that your time with them will not cost you. But when you are injured in a trucking accident, it might be that you need a quick resolution so that you aren’t left holding the bag. The more information that you can provide to your attorney from the start, the quicker they can get the case processed and start working to get you the monetary awards that you are entitled to.
First, make sure that you hire a St. Louis accident lawyer who is well-versed in the complexity of trucking accidents. There are five things that your lawyer needs to know so that they can plead your case effectively.
Details About the trucking Company and the Driver
In trucking accidents, there are several people who might be liable to pay for your damages or injuries, depending on the arrangement that the trucker had with the company that employs them or if the trucker drives their own vehicle. Things you will need to know are:
- What is the name of the trucking company, if there is one?
- What is the truck driver’s full name?
- What is the license plate number of the truck?
- Are there any other license details or numbers related to the truck itself?
- Does the truck driver have the required commercial driver’s license to be operating the truck?
- Are there any business entities or companies associated with the truck driver?
Details About the Accident
You will also need to know specifics about the accident itself, like:
- How the accident happened
- A copy of the place report
- Were there any tickets given at the scene?
- Photographs and/or videos of the crash or the site
- Whether there was any media coverage
- Names of witnesses and contact info
- The date of the accident and exactly where it happened
- The weather conditions
- If there were other people involved in the accident
- Whether there was an ambulance at the site
Medical Records After the Accident
If you had any medical treatment related to your injuries, you will need to supply:
- What type of normal activities you could not perform
- Any official diagnoses made after the accident
- Any hospital records
- X-rays or other scans
- Any follow-up treatment necessary
- Any present symptoms of chronic conditions
- Have you ever had an injury in your past that can be related to your current injuries?
Your Own Property Damage
Since you will likely be entitled to having your property damaged covered, you will need to know:
- The make, model and year of your automobile
- If there is a lien on your car
- How long you have owned or leased the car
- Is your car in working order?
- What types of damage your car sustained
- If you have any estimates of your own, bring them
- Was there any damage to your car before the accident?
- Any pictures that you have of your car before it was in the accident
Having the proper information that your St. Louis accident attorney will need to plead your case in a trucking accident will ensure that things progress quickly so that you will receive the compensation you need to get on with your life and let the healing process begin.