If you suffered injuries in a truck accident in Washington, DC, documenting the scene is a crucial step for your future personal injury claim against the driver who caused your injuries.
Even if your injuries prevent you from documenting the scene yourself, you should have someone else do it for you. The evidence you collect immediately or shortly after a truck accident can be vital for your claim.
Photograph the Vehicles
The vehicles involved are the most important things to document at the scene of a truck accident. You should take photographs of your vehicle, the truck that struck you, and any other vehicles involved in the accident.
Take these pictures from various angles to capture the full extent of the accident. When you photograph your vehicle, make sure it includes all of the damage. If pieces of your vehicle are strewn across the road, photograph them where they are and do not move them.
These pictures can be valuable evidence supporting your case during the claims process. A crash reconstruction expert hired by your attorney may also be able to use them to create a model of how the crash happened.
Photograph the Road Conditions and the Surrounding Area
Road conditions sometimes play a role in truck accidents. For example, if it was raining, wet, or icy, you should document these conditions. By the time your case proceeds, it will be impossible to determine the road conditions at the time of the accident if you don’t have photos.
Road conditions matter because if they were poor due to inclement weather, the truck driver should have exercised additional caution.
In conjunction with other evidence, your attorney may be able to show that, despite the conditions, the truck driver was speeding or otherwise engaged in unsafe driving behaviors. In this case, it would be harder for the truck driver to claim that their negligent actions didn’t cause your injuries.
Additionally, you should photograph the surrounding area. Even if you don’t think these photos will be helpful, you should take them anyway. Your attorney may be able to find a piece of evidence in one of them that supports your claim.
Get the Truck Driver’s Information
Obtaining the driver’s information after an accident with a commercial truck is necessary for several reasons. For starters, it helps with filing insurance claims, establishing fault, and ensuring legal compliance.
Key information to collect includes the driver’s name, contact details, license number, and the trucking company’s name and contact information. Additionally, obtain the truck’s license plate number and insurance details. This data is essential for your insurance company and legal representatives to process claims, determine liability, and fight for appropriate compensation for any losses or injuries you sustained in the accident.
Gather Eyewitness Information
If other motorists who witnessed the accident stopped to assist, or if pedestrians were nearby, ask for their contact information. Your attorney can follow up with them at a later date to collect statements that could corroborate your version of events. These witnesses may also have photographs or videos of their own that they can provide you and your attorney.
Contact Our Washington, D.C., Truck Accident Attorneys
Did a truck driver’s negligent actions injure you? With the help of a Washington, DC, personal injury attorney, you can seek compensation for your injuries by filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver, their employer, and any other responsible parties.
Contact Simeone & Miller, LLP, for a free consultation. One of our experienced truck accident attorneys will review your case, including the evidence you collected from the scene, and help you understand your legal options.
