Being involved in any type of accident can be a scary and dangerous situation, but if you are involved in an accident with a large truck or another commercial motor vehicle the situation can be catastrophic, even at low speeds. This is simply because of the overwhelming size difference between a passenger vehicle and a commercial truck like a semi-truck or an 18-wheeler. In addition to the significant damage that can be caused by this size difference, commercial truck drivers are held to a much different set of rules and regulations as passenger vehicle drivers. This means that the process of gathering evidence in a truck accident case and filing a claim against a commercial truck driver can be very complicated.
Read more below to learn about some of the general issues surrounding the process of gathering evidence in a truck accident case. This is not intended to be a comprehensive how-to guide about this process but is instead intended to give you a better idea of some general things to expect as you prepare for your claim. Contact us now to speak with an experienced legal professional about how you can get the support that you deserve to simplify this experience, as well as maximize your chances of a positive outcome to your case.
Sources Of Evidence In A Truck Accident Case
We understand that the specifics of each situation change, but the following are a few good ways that you can gather evidence to help prove your case after a truck accident.
Dash Cameras
As technology improves and vehicle recording devices become more and more ubiquitous, the chances of being able to obtain footage from your crash are always increasing. Many truck drivers install their onboard cameras in their trucks to protect themselves from egregious claims of negligence or other insurance-related issues, but may also be very helpful to your case if you believe the driver was acting irresponsibly.
Depending on the type of recording devices that are installed, there may be a camera that shows the front of the truck, the back of the truck, and may even show the driver.
Eyewitness Accounts
Eyewitness accounts of an accident are a tried and true source of evidence for a variety of reasons. Primarily, when you are involved in an accident there will naturally be a lot of details that you miss during the panic of the collision itself that others will witness. In addition, there may be eyewitnesses who saw the driver acting in a certain way before they came into your view, which could either strengthen your claims or may introduce a new detail that proves that the other driver was at fault.
Logbooks and Travel Documents
Commercial drivers are required to maintain extensive records about their travels, to prove that they are remaining compliant with all of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations set forth by the FMCSA. These documents should include information like the shift logs of their hours on the road, the service history of the vehicle and trailer, any possible traffic citations that the driver had been recently issued, and more.
One of the most overwhelming parts of gathering evidence is the sheer volume of documentation that you will need to go through to make sense of your legal options. This could additionally include the driver’s medical records, toxicology reports from after the crash, information about the truck weight, and many other pieces of specific information.
Event Data Records
Like airplanes, most trucks have what is known as a “black box” that continuously records a variety of data such as the speed of travel, the gear that the truck was in, whether or not a blinker was engaged when the brakes were applied, and more. As you can imagine, this data comes in a specific format that requires an experienced eye to get a clear understanding of the situation.
Contact Us Today
As you can imagine from the examples of how to collect evidence in a truck accident case, each new stream of evidence will additionally complicate your process of sorting the information and making sense of it. This, while you are trying to focus on recovering from the personal injuries that you have suffered. Contact us today to partner with an experienced truck accident attorney, so that you can focus on your physical health while we take care of the legal issues in a way that helps get you on track towards the compensation you deserve.