Truck Accident

Truck Accident Procedures

If you are in an Arkansas truck accident, it is important that you do everything you can to document the events surrounding the accident. Your observations, photos, relevant eyewitness accounts, doctor diagnosis, and more are essential elements of your truck accident claim. And if you decide to hire an experienced Arkansas truck accident lawyer from Rainwater, Holt & Sexton, P.A., this information will help to strengthen your case against the negligent party of the truck accident.

At the Scene of the Collision:

Make observations
Talk to everyone involved in the collision for information. Write down names, phone numbers, and insurance information for every driver. For the truck driver, also record the name of the company he drives for.

Also identify the witnesses so there will be someone to support your case if it goes to court. Write down their names and addresses and interview them. Ask them what they saw and make a note of phrases they use like "slammed into," "plowed," "speeding," or "he ran the red light." And make sure you take down the contact information for all emergency personnel that respond to the scene, because they are witnesses who are key to the case as well.

Take notes
In addition, take notes at the scene of the truck accident. Write down exactly what happened as soon as possible while it is still fresh in your mind and take pictures if you have a camera available at the time. Make a point to specifically record:

• Weather conditions at the time: rainy, windy, dark, etc.

• Road conditions at the time: under construction, traffic, potholes, debris, etc.

Immediately After the Collision:

See a doctor
If you are injured in an Arkansas truck accident, schedule an appointment with your own doctor as soon as possible. Don’t let the insurance adjuster choose a doctor for you. You have the right to a doctor of your choice.

Photograph the scene
As always, time is of the essence. As soon as possible, take pictures of everything involved in the accident, including detailed pictures of the scene. Take note of anything that may have been involved in the accident that can be recorded on film:

• Sight distance and obstructions: take pictures that illustrate where the truck accident began and where it ended.

• Traffic conditions existing at the time of the accident: take pictures while on the accident scene or return to the scene at the same time of day during similar traffic conditions.

• Signage in the area: take note of construction signs or paraphernalia, traffic signs and signals, etc.

Photograph the vehicle
Take pictures of your vehicle as soon as possible after your involvement in the collision. When the adjuster asks for proof of damage, it is difficult to dispute a picture taken of your vehicle at the accident scene. Pictures of the damage will help you and your personal injury lawyer tell your story. If possible, take pictures of the truck and any other vehicles involved in the accident as well. These pictures will help supply information about the severity of the impact associated with your collision.

Photograph your injuries
Take pictures of your injuries before they heal. In many cases, the seat belt strap will cause bruising across the shoulder and chest, but after several weeks, those bruises heal. Months later, when the insurance adjuster is arguing that the truck accident was not very significant, pictures of your bruises and other injuries will help solidify your personal injury claim. Your attorney will have solid, justifiable evidence to seek compensation for you.

As Time Passes:

Write down your observations
Keep notes about your injuries from your truck accident. In 6 or 7 months, you might forget how it hurt just to get dressed, and the adjuster will try to make it seem like any description you give is an exaggeration. Write down your pain medications. These kinds of written documents can be very valuable to you and your attorney when presenting your personal injury claim to the insurance adjuster or to a judge and jury in court.

Keep records of expenses
The adjuster will ask for proof of anything you claim as an expense. Be sure you keep receipts for prescriptions, household services like lawn mowing and getting someone to cook for you, car rentals and so forth. Keep each of those receipts so you can document every expense.