Truck accidents are more complicated than accidents involving passenger vehicles, and victims often suffer catastrophic injuries or are even killed. If a negligent truck driver caused your crash, a police report can be very helpful in convincing the insurance company of their liability to compensate you for your injuries.
How a Police Report Can Help in a Truck Crash Case
You should obtain immediate medical care if you need it and call the police at the crash scene. The police officer will investigate the cause of your accident and will provide you with helpful information in their police report. Here is what could be included:
- Contact information. The police report will provide the contact information for the trucker, trucking company, and insurance company. You will need this information when you file your claim.
- Details of the crash. The report will include the basics of the date, time, and place of the truck collision and a narration of how it occurred. It will also note if anyone suffered any injuries.
- Driver statements. The officer would interview you and the truck driver and include a summary of your statements in the report. The trucker may make incriminating statements admitting fault, which you can use in settlement negotiations with their insurance company.
- Witness statements. If there were witnesses to your crash, the police officer would interview them and provide their contact information and statement in their report. Having eyewitnesses corroborating the trucker’s negligence can strengthen your case significantly.
- Diagrams and photos. Depending on how extensive the investigation is, the officer could include a diagram of the crash scene and where the vehicles were located and attach any photos.
- Citations. If any traffic tickets were issued or the trucker was arrested for DUI, this will be included in the police report. This information can be extremely useful in proving the trucker’s fault in causing the accident.
Other Unique Evidence You Need to Win Your Case
Truckers and trucking companies must comply with many federal regulations regarding the trucker’s qualifications, hours they can drive without taking a break, and maintenance on the truck. Often violations of these rules are contributing causes of a crash.
You will need other evidence unique to truck accident cases to prove the truck driver’s and trucking company’s negligence. It is important to obtain evidence soon after your crash before being destroyed or altered by the trucking company. This can include the trucker’s personnel file, truck’s onboard data, truck maintenance records, trucker’s logbook, and much more.
If you were hurt in a truck accident in the Virginia Beach or Norfolk areas, our knowledgeable legal team is here to collect all the evidence you need and to fight for all the compensation you deserve in your settlement. Fill out our convenient online form on this page to schedule your free consultation today.
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