How truck accident investigations are conducted may vary depending on who leads the investigation. Lawyers, police officers, and insurance adjusters have different reasons and methods for determining what led to an accident. They may:
- Request or exchange information with each other
- Visit the accident scene
- Speak to witnesses, experts, and other relevant individuals
- Request documentation from doctors, insurers, and others
- Carefully examine all available information before making a decision
Who Can Conduct an Investigation for a Truck Accident?
If you were involved in a truck accident, the first person you would speak to is probably a police officer. According to Florida Statutes § 316.066, officers are often required to investigate the crash and file a report within ten days of completing the investigation.
Other investigations may be conducted by:
- Your attorney, who will try to find evidence that the accident was not your fault
- The liable party’s attorney, who will also try to find evidence that protects their client
- All of the involved insurance companies, including your own and the liable party’s, each of whom wants to find evidence that they are not responsible for paying you compensation
It is important that you cooperate with all authorized truck accident investigations. Failure to do so may make it seem like you have something to hide or cause the insurance company to reject your claim. You can hire a truck accident attorney to interact with all other parties on your behalf if that makes you feel more comfortable.
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What Evidence is Applicable to Truck Accident Claims?
Your lawyer may be able to collect evidence from different sources depending on how and where your accident happened. For instance, they can:
- Go to the accident scene to examine the environment and find out if any nearby surveillance cameras may have caught the crash on tape
- Request a copy of the police report and review it for potential leads, such as the names of witnesses
- Get your permission to request your medical records and use them to connect your injuries with the accident
- Review your insurance policy to see what it should and does not cover in your case
Your lawyer can also engage in what is called discovery. This process allows your truck accident attorney to access essential documents collected by the liable party and vice versa.
Who Can Testify in a Truck Accident Case?
Your lawyer may speak to those with pertinent information to further strengthen your case. Their statements may take the form of recorded interviews, written statements, or even courtroom testimony if your case goes to trial.
Your lawyer can speak to:
- Your friends and family, who may know about your injuries or dispute the idea that you could have been careless enough to cause the accident
- Your doctor, who has personally examined you and diagnosed your injuries
- The liable party—even if their lawyer is present and prevents them from saying too much, their testimony is important for creating a complete account of what occurred
- Eyewitnesses who were there when the accident occurred or in the immediate aftermath
- Experts with relevant areas of expertise, such as medical doctors who can confirm your doctor’s diagnosis or economists who can explain how your injuries will impact you financially
Remember that your lawyer is not the only one investigating this accident. You may be asked to testify multiple times by multiple parties. Your truck accident attorney can accompany you to any necessary interviews and protect your rights.
What Happens After the Investigation?
Once the police finish investigating, they will write up a report detailing their findings.
When your lawyer finishes investigating, they should have a much better idea of:
- Who caused the accident
- How the accident happened
- How serious your losses are
- How much money you can seek for your losses
Armed with this knowledge, your lawyer can figure out the best way to get fair compensation from the liable party or insurance company.
Once the insurance companies finish investigating, they will decide who they think caused the accident and, consequently, who should pay damages to whom.
If any of the parties disagree about the facts of the case, they can arrange a time to meet and discuss it. Your truck accident attorney can represent you at all such meetings and:
- Present the evidence they collected during the investigation
- Negotiate with the insurance company for a fair settlement
- Argue against any allegations that you contributed to the crash or your injuries
- Prepare the final settlement agreement for you to sign
Contact Our Truck Accident Lawyers to Get Started on Your Claim Today
The team at Bogin, Munns & Munns is always ready to conduct truck accident investigations on our clients’ behalf. So for a free, no-risk consultation, call us today. We represent clients just like you throughout Florida and will fight hard to ensure justice is done in your case.
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