Car crashes and truck accidents are some of the most common accidents worldwide, and some of them can lead to fatal or acute injuries. If you’ve been engaged in a truck collision recently, it’s crucial to acquire some insights on how to get through such a predicament. It’s paramount to prove the driver’s negligence and obtain compensation for your losses.
Fortunately, there are viable ways to prove who’s at fault as long as you gather evidence and the necessary documents. It pays to know the proper steps in going through a truck collision. After all, this tragedy should be faced head-on as early as possible. Also, it’s essential to seek advice and support from a car injury lawyer so they can guide you and answer ‘what is post incident drug testing?’ and other questions.
Apply the following tips to prove fault in a truck accident:
- Ask For Police Reports
The police must be contacted immediately after a crash. This must be done immediately while both cars are still in their original places and conditions. Authorities like the police will be in charge of creating an unbiased report of the incident. After all, a police report is an excellent tool for proving fault in an accident. Reports written by police officers are generally considered persuasive because they’re seen as neutral third parties with no stake in the case’s outcome. This report is also crucial for any car accident claims.
Police reports usually follow their own protocols and report formats. However, the basic details that need to be recorded are the location, time, and date of the car accident. The names of witnesses should be recorded too, and suggest some other details necessary to support your proofs. When it comes to motor vehicle accidents, police officers generally have a lot of experience, so they can identify what happened. You can trust them to perform the necessary actions after a vehicle collision. Seeking help from authorities is what you should do after an accident.
Police know traffic and road laws, so they can easily assess which one is at fault. However, they still need to put every factor and detail into writing. An officer’s report may reflect the vehicle’s speed or whether the other driver broke the law. Also included in the police report will be information regarding whether the other driver was ticketed for a traffic violation.Â
However, it’s essential to know that police reports aren’t 100% accurate, so you need additional supporting proof if you want to prove fault for your truck accident. You can seek advice from a lawyer and an accident reconstructionist analyst if needed.
- Gather Witness Statements
Depending on the time and location of your accident, chances are there are passers-by and onlookers during the car accident. You need to gather witness statements so there’ll be other opinions and honest relays about what really happened during the time. They can share more details about what occurred before, during, and after the truck accident. The things that police might have missed can be filled in.
Witness statements are often the only available narratives in cases where the involved parties are severely injured. Don’t forget to get the contact information and complete names of the witnesses in the accident. You need them so they can provide a first-hand account of the accident if you intend to file an insurance claim or file a lawsuit for compensation. Witness statements can be crucial to proving liability and obtaining financial compensation. This is another vital piece of evidence to prove fault for your accident.
- Take Photos Of The Accident
As soon as possible after an accident, take photographs of the scene if you’re still able. Take as much of it as you can. Look through different angles, and ensure clear and unpixellated ones. In addition to capturing broad scenes, you should also capture close-up images to show injuries and property damage. All these images can be used as proof for claims later on.
On the other hand, this tip might not be applicable if you’ve incurred severe and fatal injuries that won’t allow you to move. In such a case, ensure that your dashcam is working and its quality will be maintained. Photographs can be essential in a vehicle accident claim in which you seek compensation from the at-fault driver. They can also be important for an accident reconstruction expert.
If you need to prove fault in a more effective way, you may be able to do so by working with an accident reconstruction expert. These accident reconstruction analysts can further assess the accident and create additional reports and findings that can support or even contradict the police. Therefore, hand out all your photographs to these experts so they can help them with their analysis.
- Vehicle Dash Cam Footage
As mentioned, if taking the photos wasn’t possible at that time, the most effective alternative evidence is the vehicle dash cam. Acquire the footage of the accident and ensure that the other vehicle’s dashcam is also working. The dashcam is always able to release the crucial details that witnesses and other authorities were able to miss out on. Also, since dashcams are in closer range, they can better determine the point of contact.
- Speak To A Lawyer
To prove fault for an accident, it’s always wise to speak to a personal injury lawyer. They’ll help you through the entire process of demanding compensation and claims. Make sure to approach an experienced car accident attorney who has a track record of similar accidents to yours. Coordinate with your lawyer throughout your car accident claim process, and you’ll be on the upper hand.
Conclusion
Truck accidents often cause serious injuries that affect your life for the rest of your life. It’s crucial to claim compensation for your losses, injuries, and damages. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to do these with the lack of proof and evidence. With the tips above, you can prove fault in your truck accidents.
