A truck accident can be serious. Accidents even at low speeds with such heavy vehicles – such as 18-wheelers or semi-trucks – can lead to serious injury. If you or your passengers were involved in an accident with a truck, you may suffer damages and you should hold the truck driver and potentially their employer responsible for their actions. In order to do that, you need to speak with a personal injury attorney in NYC that understands these types of cases.
In order to represent you to the best of their ability, you will meet with an attorney for a free consultation. These consultations provide the attorney with a chance to get to know your claim and you a chance to explore your options. There are a few questions the attorney will ask regarding the accident to help them determine if you have a viable suit. To get the most out of that consultation and to ensure the attorney receives all the facts upfront, you will want to research a few things.
Details About the Driver or Company
See what details you can find about the driver or the company that owns the truck. Some information to gather includes:
- Name of the trucking company
- Truck driver’s name
- Truck’s license plate number
- Other license numbers posted on the truck
- Companies or businesses that are directly associated with this company or the delivery service
Details About the Accident
The accident details are critical and will help determine how your attorney will pursue compensation. Some details you should research and bring to your consultation include:
- How the accident occurred
- If a police report was filed
- Any traffic violations the truck driver may have been charged with
- If photos or videos were captured of the scene
- Names and contact information of any witnesses present at the scene
- When and where the accident occurred
- Weather conditions at the time of the accident
- What you were doing before, after and during the accident
- If you had to leave the scene by ambulance
- Your emergency room visit
- Any other people or vehicles that were involved
Details About Injuries and Your Medical Records
Bringing along your medical records can help your new attorney estimate the amount of compensation your claim may be entitled to. Some medical records and information regarding your injuries to bring include:
- Activities that you can no longer do because of your truck accident injuries
- Your immediate diagnosis – in the ER or at a private physician’s office – following the accident
- If you were taken to the hospital from the scene
- How long (if any) you were hospitalized
- What initial treatments you were prescribed
- X-rays and other diagnostic tests performed as well as their results
- Prescriptions you are currently taking
- Follow up treatments you have
- Prognosis
- Your current symptoms
- If you have had similar injuries in the past
Personal and Financial Information
Lastly, you will need to gather information about your personal life as well as your finances. These things can help determine additional compensation you may be eligible to collect. Some information to research includes how many hours you’ve taken off work, your paystubs (to calculate lost wages), your current insurer, if you will be able to return to work, etc.
Bring all of the information you have gathered to your free consultation with the truck accident attorneys at Schwartzapfel® Lawyers P.C. today. We can assist you with your claim. Call us at 1-516-342-2200 to schedule a consultation or fill out an online contact form with your questions.
