Florida truck accidents and car accidents are two of the most common causes for personal injuries. Unfortunately, due to the size and force of trucks, truck accidents in the state tend to lead to especially severe injuries. If you have been in a Florida traffic accident, your first aim should be to get medical attention. Some patients – including Florida brain injury patients – need immediate medical attention to prevent complications and to increase the chances of survival. However, if you do not need medical attention, you should gather some information at the scene of the accident. Among the items of information to gather are:
Information about the other truck or car and driver. Gather, if you can, the name, driver’s license number, address, and phone number of the driver. As well, write down the make and type of truck or car, as well as the car year and license number. In the event of a commercial truck, write down the location where the truck came from and the truck carrier or the owner of the truck as well. If the other driver makes a statement or seems impaired, note this. As well, write down any details of the passengers in the other car or truck. This should include the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all passengers in the other car or truck. Finally, write down the insurance information for the other driver. You will need to reciprocate and share the same information with the other driver involved in the accident.
Information about any witnesses on the scene. Take down names, phone numbers, and addresses of anyone who saw the accident. Their testimony may be very important if you need to take legal action.
Information about any wrecker services used. Write down the tow services or wrecker services used for your car or any car or truck involved in the accident. Write down the name of two truck operator and the name of the service, if possible.
Any details about the conditions of the accident. Write down the location, time, and date of the accident, as well as any pertinent conditions regarding weather, lighting, road conditions, traffic conditions, visual obstructions, and anything else which may have contributed to the accident. If there are specific weather conditions or other conditions which may have contributed to the accident, you may want to take photos at the scene, if you have a camera handy.
Other details about the conditions and aftermath of the accident. Note the speed at which you were going, and any traffic controls in the area. If someone is cited to be at fault, note the details, including the reason given. Note who was wearing seatbelts and who was not, as well as the direction each car was traveling. Note the location of the impact and the damage done to the car as well as any damage done to the street or landmarks in the area.
It is always better to take down more details than fewer. If you are in doubt, write in down, as you will start to forget details soon after your accident. If you have been taken to hospital, you can jot down a few details while waiting for tests. However, focus on your health first. If you cannot get details of the accident because you are rushed to the hospital, don’t worry: law enforcement will get the details of the accident. If you decide to pursue legal action, a Florida personal injury attorney can work with private investigators and accident reconstruction professionals to determine the details of the crash. However, since evidence only lasts for so long, it is important to contact a qualified attorney as soon as possible after your accident.
If you need an experienced South Florida truck accident attorney, contact the Flaxman Law Group. The Flaxman Law Group has decades of experience and offices in Miami, Homestead, and Hollywood to serve you better. The compassionate and experienced legal team at the Flaxman Law Group can even offer a free initial consultation so that you can discuss your case with a qualified attorney.