Evidence You Need In Kansas City Truck Accidents

Few traffic accidents are as terrifying as those involving large, dangerously heavy commercial trucks. Suffering serious injuries in a truck accident in Kansas City is a traumatizing experience, especially when loved ones are hurt or your family endures a fatality. During the aftermath of a serious accident, financial compensation probably isn’t the first thing on your mind, but during the recovery period when you might not be able to return to work at the same time that medical bills are piling up, filing a compensation claim with our Kansas City truck accident lawyer provides relief from financial burdens so you can focus on recovering. The first question many injury victims ask is, “What evidence do I need to prove a truck accident claim in Kansas City?”

Evidence From the Accident Scene

The police report from an accident is one of the key sources of evidence. It typically provides critical contact information for the truck driver, and the trucking company, and may have the names of eyewitnesses. Unfortunately, law enforcement agencies have to reserve their funding for criminal investigations so the police report of an accident may be rudimentary. When an accident victim can collect data with their cell phone at the scene, it strengthens their claim later. Examples of preserving evidence with a cell phone include:

• Taking photos of the damaged truck and your vehicle before they are moved out of their resting positions
• Taking photos of the scene of the accident to include anything relevant to the cause like an intersection, traffic signs, traffic signals, or a hazard in the roadway
• Photographing visible injuries
• Adding the contact information of eyewitnesses who otherwise might exit the scene before law enforcement officers get their names

It’s also a good idea for an accident victim to record a brief statement about what they remember of the accident and the moments leading up to it. Sometimes the trauma of an accident fades the details later.

This evidence becomes crucial for proving negligence in a truck accident case in Missouri, where fault-based insurance laws require evidence of liability to recover the maximum available compensation for damages.

Medical Evidence In a Truck Accident Case in Kansas City

Besides proving fault and liability in a truck accident case, an injury victim has to present evidence of their economic and non-economic damages. The medical records from emergency medical treatment, hospitalization, and follow-up care become essential for recovering damages.

It’s always the best practice to go straight to a hospital from the accident scene, either in an ambulance for critical injuries or by arranging transportation to a hospital if your injuries don’t appear severe. Ask for a full medical exam to document every injury, even those that commonly have delayed symptom presentation.

You can request that your medical providers create a detailed medical report listing your injuries, recommended medical treatment, and prognosis. Then, keep copies of all medical bills, prescription costs, and out-of-pocket expenses. Not only does this help recover compensation for medical expenses, but it also becomes the basis of a formula to calculate compensation for pain and suffering.

Evidence of Income Loss After a Truck Accident in Kansas City

When serious injuries keep you from returning to work during a recovery period or cause disability so you can’t return at all, you’ll have to provide evidence in the form of employee statements, and tax forms showing your normal income and the amount of time you’ve lost from work. Lost wages and diminished future earning capacity in the event of a disability can significantly increase the compensation available after a truck accident.

How Can a Kansas City Truck Accident Lawyer Help?

Gathering evidence requires a thorough investigation. Your Kansas City injury lawyer from Miller & Hine Attorneys at Law will help you gather ample evidence to make a compelling claim and present it to the appropriate insurance company before entering into settlement negotiations.

Call our Kansas City law office today to set up a free evaluation of your case so we can take action.