Gathering and Preserving Evidence After a Truck Accident
If you’ve been involved in any kind of truck accident, you know how frustrating—and overwhelming—the experience can be. Fortunately, New Jersey personal injury laws allow truck accident victims to seek damages by filing a claim or lawsuit. In order to prove fault and establish liability in your claim, though, you must provide substantial evidence and documentation. Gathering and preserving evidence after a truck wreck is important to building a strong case. You’ll need a skilled attorney to help you with this.
At The Law Offices of Gold, Albanese & Barletti, LLC, we're committed to offering comprehensive guidance and skilled representation to clients in their truck accident cases. Our experienced New Jersey personal injury attorneys can examine the facts of your unique situation and enlighten you about how to gather and preserve evidence. In addition, we will help file your accident claims, help negotiate a fair settlement with the insurer, or take additional legal action if necessary.
Our firm proudly serves clients across Morristown, New Jersey, and surrounding areas throughout New Jersey, New York, and Boston, Massachusetts. Set up a consultation today.
The Importance of Gathering Evidence
Evidence includes photos, witness statements, medical records, police reports, and other relevant information or documentation that can help you prove fault or establish damages after an accident. Here are some reasons why gathering evidence after a truck accident is so vital:
To Establish Fault
One major reason to gather and preserve evidence is to establish who was responsible for the truck accident. Evidence such as car damage, physical injuries, skid marks, and surveillance footage can provide important clues for attorneys, accident reconstruction experts, and investigators to develop conclusions about the cause of the traffic crash and who was at fault.
For the Legal Proceedings
In addition, gathering and preserving evidence after a truck accident can help you establish your position in a personal injury lawsuit. With solid evidence, you will have a stronger case against the defendant in court. This will help improve your chances of achieving the most favorable outcome in your case.
To Prove Damages
You need to gather as much evidence as possible to prove the extent of your physical injuries, damages, and accident-related losses. With this kind of evidence, you can strive to convince the insurance provider or court of the full magnitude of your damages.
To Support Insurance Claims
Filing an injury claim after a truck accident can be stressful. Unfortunately, the insurance provider may try to undervalue or deny your claims altogether. You’ll need to provide substantial evidence to support your claims and strengthen your case.
To Protect Against False Claims
The other party or insurance carrier may try to distort or manipulate the facts of the case. In some cases, the at-fault truck driver may try to file false claims against you. Thankfully, you may be able to protect yourself against false claims or dispute any false allegations using concrete evidence gathered from the accident scene.
For Peace of Mind
Any person can be the victim of an 18-wheeler accident. Such an incident can impact you financially, emotionally, and physically. With so much to deal with after the truck accident, having the necessary documentation, facts, and evidence to back your case can give you the security, confidence, and peace of mind you deserve.
Evidence That Should Be Gathered
Here are some crucial pieces of evidence and documentation to gather after a truck accident:
Relevant information about the truck driver
Police reports
Accident scene photos
Black box data
Pictures of your injuries right after the truck accident
Dash cam and surveillance footage
Witness statements and testimonies
Medical records, including medical expenses, medical reports, hospital visits, and doctor's appointments
Photos and documentation of any damages to your vehicle
A personal account of the truck accident and how it has affected your day-to-day life and work
In addition to gathering the aforementioned evidence, it is important that you preserve this evidence properly to avoid losing key information before filing your claim.
Steps to Take to Preserve Evidence
There are steps you can take to preserve evidence after a truck accident:
Write down your personal account of the incident when it is still fresh in your memory.
Inspect the accident scene and take photos from different angles.
Document your injuries and seek immediate medical attention from a qualified physician.
Protect physical evidence and documents by taking quality photographs and making multiple copies for safekeeping.
Locate eyewitnesses as soon as possible. Properly document all witness testimonies, statements, and findings.
Do not wait for too long before filing your claims. If you continue to delay, you may lose evidence or forget important information about the truck accident.
An experienced New Jersey truck accident attorney can help you gather and preserve evidence and guide you through this process.
Ask an Attorney for Help
Trucking accidents can be devastating. Gathering and preserving evidence after the incident on the road can help establish fault, support your claims, and prove damages. At The Law Offices of Gold, Albanese & Barletti, LLC, our attorneys are ready to help you move forward.
As your legal counsel, we can evaluate your unique situation, conduct a thorough investigation, gather substantial evidence, and determine the full magnitude of your injuries. Ultimately, we will fight vigorously for your rights, seek to establish liability, and help you recover the maximum available compensation for your injuries, damages, or losses.
Contact us at The Law Offices of Gold, Albanese & Barletti, LLC, today to schedule a simple case assessment with skilled personal injury lawyers. Our team can guide you through these complex procedures. We're proud to serve clients across Morristown, New Jersey, and throughout New Jersey, New York, and Boston, Massachusetts.