Immediately after being involved in a truck accident, check if you have injuries to confirm you can safely move around. If you can, you need to gather details at the scene. If you can’t, request a witness to help you while you wait for medical assistance.
Here are three details to collect after a truck accident:
The driver’s and the trucking company’s information
Get the driver’s name, address, contact information, insurance details (the name of their insurance company and policy number) and driver’s license number.
Then, gather details about the trucking company they work for. Get the company’s name, address, and contact information. You should also collect the company’s United States Department of Transportation number (USDOT) or California DOT number (CA number). These numbers are unique identifiers of the trucking company.
Vehicle information
Write down the details that identify the truck. These include its make, model, color, license plate number and vehicle identification number.
Accident scene details
Take photos and videos of the accident scene, capturing damage to the vehicles involved, position of both cars, skid marks, road debris, surrounding areas, property damage and your injuries. It’s important to take photos from different angles to provide adequate information about the accident. Additionally, take close-up photos when documenting the damage to the vehicles and your injuries.
Further, with permission from the other driver, it can be beneficial to take photos of some of their documents, such as their driver’s license and insurance card. This helps verify the details they gave you and creates a record.
You can also take photos of the police report after the officer finishes writing it. Ensure you check with the officer before taking pictures.
These details can help strengthen your claim. Obtain more information on how to hold the truck driver responsible for their negligence.