If you are the victim of a truck accident, it is important to gather as much evidence as possible. This evidence can help you to prove who is liable and receive the compensation you deserve.
Important evidence includes witness testimony, photos or videos of the scene, the police report, vehicle information, insurance policies, and documents such as a driver’s license or registration. You should also take note of any environmental conditions, such as dangerous roads or hazardous weather.
Furthermore, it is important to get medical attention immediately after the accident and to document the severity of your injury.
An experienced attorney can be essential in helping you to protect your future and maximize your compensation. Accidents involving large trucks often result in catastrophic or fatal injuries – particularly for occupants of passenger vehicles who get hit by trucks.
Important Truck Accident Evidence
When it comes to truck crashes, certain pieces of evidence can help strengthen your claim, including:
Accident reports: Law enforcement officials typically arrive at the scene when a truck accident occurs. The accident report usually contains essential information, including the accident date, time, location, and eyewitness information. And law enforcement officials’ assessment of what occurred and who was at fault. It is important that you obtain a copy of the accident report. Your truck accident attorney can also help you obtain a report copy.
Evidence from the scene: After a truck collision, it is critical to get evidence from the scene. If possible, take photographs of the accident scene, including property damage, tire marks on the roadway, your vehicle, the truck involved, and your injuries. It might also help to shoot videos of the accident scene and the surrounding area on your cell phone.
Driver logs: Truck drivers must take breaks under federal Hours of Service rules to avoid exhaustion while driving. Electronic Logging Devices record the time when truck drivers are on the road and when they take breaks. If an accident occurred because of driver fatigue, these driver logs would become an essential piece of evidence that shows the driver was not well rested at the time of the accident.
Witnesses: Having a witness after a truck accident can be invaluable to establishing liability and pursuing compensation. A witness can provide an unbiased account of the accident and any facts or details that may be relevant to the case. Additionally, a witness can provide testimony in court if necessary. It is important to get the contact information of any witnesses at the scene, as their testimonies can be the difference between winning or losing a case. An experienced attorney can help you get in touch with witnesses and ensure their testimony is properly documented.
Black box information: Most large trucks are equipped with event data recorders or black boxes that can provide a great deal of information about why an accident occurred. For example, these devices can provide information such as how fast the truck was going and whether the driver attempted to brake just before the collision occurred. These types of information can point to the cause of the truck crash.
Additionally, if the accident happened as a result of poor truck maintenance, your truck accident attorney might also be able to obtain the truck’s maintenance records. Your attorney will send out a spoliation letter to request that all evidence related to the accident be preserved. Sending out this document ensures that the evidence in a truck accident is not lost or destroyed.
Filing a Truck Crash Lawsuit
Compiling such key evidence can help substantiate your claim and strengthen your truck accident case. If you have suffered major injuries in a truck accident, you may be looking at damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering. You need an experienced truck accident attorney early on in the process who will help obtain and preserve such evidence.
