Being in an accident with a big truck is a shocking and traumatic event with potentially devastating consequences. Severe injuries can throw your entire life into uncertainty. You may be overwhelmed by your physical injuries. You may also suffer emotional trauma and worry about what happens next. If you are able, there are some questions you should ask a truck accident witness that can help you in the future.
After being injured in a truck accident, you have the right to seek compensation if the truck accident wasn’t your fault. You must ensure that you have strong evidence to support that the accident was someone else’s fault to preserve your right to file a claim with an insurance company or a lawsuit for compensation. One evidence supporting your claim is the statement of witnesses at the scene.
What Do I Ask a Witness to My Truck Accident?
It’s entirely understandable that after an accident, you’re likely not considering all of the factors that could affect a personal injury claim or lawsuit you may file. You may not be in the mindset to speak to witnesses at the scene to gather information. You may not feel ready to take a statement from them that could be used as evidence in support of your claim. Depending on your injuries, you may not even be able to speak to any witnesses.
Speaking with any witnesses at the scene would be ideal because their memory is fresh. Since the accident just happened, their recollections about what they say may be more reliable than they would be later.
One of the next best things you can do, at a minimum, is to collect the names and contact information of any witnesses at the scene. This way, you or your attorney can contact the witnesses at a later date to determine what helpful information they have.
When questioning a witness, you should ask them fairly open-ended questions: What did you see? You can then ask them follow-up questions based on the initial information they’ve provided. The following questions may be helpful to ask a witness to your truck accident:
When did you arrive at the scene where the accident would eventually occur? Where were you when the accident occurred?
These two questions will help support whether the witness was present to see the entire accident or perhaps only the immediate aftermath. Also, the witnesses providing information about where they were near the accident can support whether their perspective of what they saw is helpful. For example, if they were close to the accident, but their view was possibly obstructed by road work or a street sign, that could weaken the reliability of their statement about what they saw.
What did you see immediately before the accident? What did you see when the accident happened?
The witnesses’ answers to these questions are important evidence. They may provide insight into what happened before and during the accident from an objective, neutral third-party perspective.
What were you doing when the accident occurred?
You want to be able to obtain reliable witness statements. This is especially true if the statements support your claim that you weren’t responsible for the accident. If the witness was distracted right up until the moment of the crash, they may not have seen everything that happened before the accident. They may not be recalling the information correctly. This evidence could weaken your claim. This is particularly true if you are unaware that the witness was distracted during the accident. You should not rely heavily on their supposition that their witness statement is accurate and reliable.
What Else Should I Do After My Truck Accident
One of the first things you should do after your truck accident is to seek immediate medical attention. Your health should be your top priority. You want to ensure you receive medical attention and treatment for any injuries you may have sustained in the truck accident. Receiving medical attention is also imperative to support your claim.
The medical professionals who tend to you will record your injuries and the treatment they provide. This medical documentation will prove your claim and show that you were injured in the truck accident. Additionally, in combination with your medical bills and treatment costs for your accident-related injuries, this medical documentation will support the value of your claim.
You should also hire a truck accident attorney as soon as possible. A truck accident attorney can help field questions from insurance company investigators on your behalf. Insurance companies may try to contact you soon after your accident. Your attorney understands the tactics that insurance companies may use to deny valid injury claims. They also often try to take advantage of overwhelmed truck accident victims by getting them to accept settlement offers that are less than the value of their claims.
Furthermore, an experienced truck accident attorney can help you navigate the challenging process of obtaining compensation from insurance companies. If necessary, they can best represent you in litigation.
Call Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers Today
If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Call the skilled and compassionate truck accident attorneys at the Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers at (973) 364-8300 or contact us online for a free consultation. We’re here to help you obtain the just compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Written by: Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers Last Updated : November 7, 2023We are the trial attorneys with the experience and knowledge to get you the results you deserve. At Brach Eichler Injury Lawyers, we take time to get to know you, as well as your case. We are committed to excellence. It is important for our team to understand your fears, concerns and expectations. We are always available to answer any questions, and are willing to come to you if you are unable to come to us.
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