Siloam Springs, AR Truck Accident Lawyer

Making a full financial recovery after a truck accident in Siloam Springs is crucial for victims, and our attorneys can help by initiating claims immediately.

To prove your injuries and damages from a truck crash, our lawyers will need access to your medical and employment records, as well as any bills associated with economic losses from the accident. We can also help you get and review the police report to see if it contains details that could help your case, such as eyewitnesses’ contact information. At the start of your case, our lawyers can confirm if the driver is a regular employee or an independent contractor and explain how their employment status might affect your lawsuit and who it includes. For example, trucking companies are often vicariously liable for the negligence of their regular employees but not of independent contractors in Siloam Springs.

For a confidential and free case assessment from our truck accident lawyers, call (479) 316-0438 today.

Records Our Lawyers Need for Truck Accident Claims in Siloam Springs, AR

When preparing your compensation claim for a truck accident in Siloam Springs, our lawyers will help you obtain and organize various records, documents, and reports, including medical records, bills, police reports, and employment records.

Medical Records and Bills

First and foremost, we will need your medical records and any bills associated with your treatment. From the onset of your case, we can help you request medical reports from emergency medical services that arrived on the scene, the hospital you went to immediately after the accident, and any specialists you sought treatment from during your physical recovery.

When suing for truck accident injuries in Siloam Springs, you must show that you were, in fact, injured. As you get treatment, you incur costs, and our truck accident lawyers will keep copies of all bills or invoices from hospitals and providers throughout your claim.

Though truck accident injuries are often immediately apparent, some, like whiplash or internal injuries, are not. Because of this, some victims might not realize they are injured until they go to the emergency room for evaluation. Suppose you delay treatment for even a few days. In that case, connecting your injuries to the driver’s negligence might be more challenging, as you might not have records from immediately after the crash to establish a link.

Police Reports

Though police reports are typically inadmissible in Arkansas truck accident cases, our lawyers can still help you access your report, which can provide crucial information during the lawsuit’s preparation stage.

Police reports from the Siloam Springs Police Department become available within several business days of a collision. After obtaining the report, we will review it for any new or relevant details, like the road and weather conditions at the time of the accident, as these could be contributing factors to the crash. Police reports typically note an accident’s cause, if known, which our lawyers can review and compare to findings from an accident reconstruction expert if necessary.

When police officers respond to truck accident sites, they will speak to all involved parties. If the driver hits a victim while transporting goods for their employer, law enforcement will note that in the report. If the driver is a regular trucking company employee, the company might be vicariously liable for the driver’s negligence.

Police officers might also note if eyewitnesses stayed at the scene and gave their contact information. If they did, our lawyers can learn their contact details from the police report and reach out to interview them.

Employment and Income Records

Truck accidents are rarely minor, especially when they happen at high speeds. Because of this, victims might sustain any number of traumatizing injuries, ranging from spinal cord damage to permanent head injuries. Broken bones, burns, and other injuries might considerably affect victims’ lives, preventing them from working or earning a similar income as before the accident.

To make sure your compensation includes missed wages, our lawyers will refer to your employment and income records. We can review previous tax returns or paystubs confirming your past income and use assessments from your medical team to estimate how long your earning capacity will be affected by truck accident injuries.

Truck Accident Claims Involving Independent Contractors vs. Regular Employees in Siloam Springs, AR

Some truckers are independent contractors who use their own vehicles to transport goods throughout Arkansas. When hit by negligent independent contractors in Siloam Springs, victims might be limited regarding who they can bring claims against.

We can confirm the driver’s employment status with the trucking company to see if the company could be vicariously liable for the driver’s negligent actions. Trucking companies might be liable for accidents due to vehicle defects, provided they own the vehicles and are responsible for maintaining them. Independent contractor drivers do not operate under the same oversight as regular employees and might be the only ones liable for accidents in Siloam Springs.

If the driver is an independent contractor, we can see if another party, like the truck manufacturer or driver on the road, shares liability to maximize your financial recovery. For example, if the truck’s brakes failed, causing the accident, it might be because the brakes themselves were defective, making the manufacturer liable.

If the driver is not an independent contractor and is instead a regular employee, you can likely include their employer in your compensation claim if the driver was negligent. Companies are liable for the actions of their employees performed within the scope of their employment. Trucking companies could be liable for other reasons, such as negligent hiring practices or encouraging drivers to work overtime and drive fatigued, which our lawyers can explore when reviewing your case in Siloam Springs.

Call Our Lawyers in Siloam Springs, AR to Discuss Your Case

Call our truck accident lawyers at (479) 316-0438 for a free case assessment.