While you do not need to have this information in hand to pursue a lawsuit, the following information is extremely helpful, and could lead to swifter justice for you and your family:
The date and location of the accident, plus any photos of the crash scene if you were able to take them
Names and contact info of the other driver, any passengers or witnesses, and a copy of the police report
All documents associated with your medical care (receipts associated with the ambulance, hospital, pharmacy, and any follow-up healthcare visits)
Financial documents like tax returns or pay stubs that can show your lost income
Invoices for auto repairs or the cost of alternative transportation
If you don’t have these items readily available, that’s okay — it’s your lawyer’s job to obtain the documents related to your case, not yours. Your attorney can gather publicly available information, secure your permission to access private medical records, and subpoena (legally demand) other forms of evidence that otherwise would be inaccessible, like internal trucking company communications.
In gathering and securing relevant evidence regarding your accident, your lawyer begins to build a case for negotiation and trial if needed.