How to Gather Evidence for a Truck Accident Claim
The Commercial Trucking industry is heavily regulated. They rely on a variety of technology to monitor drivers, such as GPS, logs, reports, and recording devices. Because of this, it is possible to gather significantly more evidence and information than in other vehicle injury lawsuits.
Victims of truck accidents want to secure as much evidence as possible, quickly, in order to build a strong case for receiving compensation for their injuries. An experienced personal injury attorney can help with this, reducing the hassle and gathering details before they are lost or no longer accessible.
These records often include:
- State inspection reports after the accident
- Police reports from the accident
- Black box-styled information recorders on the truck
- Employer logs, especially if the cause was excessive truck driver fatigue or hours of service violations
- Company or driver truck maintenance and inspection records
- Information regarding parts recalls or warnings from a manufacturer
- Relevant photos of damages, injuries, and evidence
Depending on the cause of the accident and who was involved, different pieces of information may be more or less useful for an injury claim. An attorney may be able to help a claimant secure evidence as a part of a lawsuit.
The Truth About Commercial Truck Accidents
Commercial truckers have specific training for safely driving oversized vehicles. This doesn’t mean they always follow protocol. There are other times when hazardous conditions exist and a true accident occurs. Just like any accident where injuries and damages occur, victims can seek compensation from the insurance company to recover their losses.
Here are some alarming statistics about commercial truck accidents:
The most severe injuries from trucking accidents include back and neck injuries, including whiplash, broken bones, head trauma, and internal bleeding.1
The peak month for fatal truck crashes in 2019 was September, and more than half of those occurred during the day on rural roads.2
71% of deaths involving large trucks are occupants of other vehicles.3
In 2019, 5,005 large trucks were involved in a fatal crash, a 43% increase since 2010.4
Proving a motorist’s injuries were caused by the careless actions of a commercial trucker or trucking company would allow for a personal injury lawsuit. The lawsuit could provide compensation for:
- Personal property damages
- Medical bills due to the truck accident
- Loss of wages or promotion or ability to work
- Emotional injury
What Information to Collect After a Truck Accident
If you are able to remain on the scene, you likely feel shaken up. Photos will help with this for when adrenaline comes back down and you have time to process what happened. When possible, gather information about:
- The name of the driver and the trucking company
- The contact information for any witnesses
- Insurance policy information
- Images of property damage – both close and mid-range
- Images of the scene including road conditions, lighting, nearest intersection, and signage
- Images of skid marks and vehicle positions
- Information on emergency responders
- What lead up to the accident
- The date and time of the accident
- Any other pertinent information
In the case of serious injury, you may not be able to collect information at the scene, however emergency personnel likely have. Asking for witnesses and images, especially if the victim has left the scene in an ambulance, is critical. Contacting a Denver truck accident attorney can help obtain records and information needed to build a case.
Lawyers Can Help Gather Evidence – Contact Us for Help
If you’re considering filing a claim against the person or company responsible for your truck accident injuries, we can help you find the records and information likely to improve your chances of winning your lawsuit. We can strengthen your claim and argue for the compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages. For more information regarding our full range of legal services for those in need, contact a Denver personal injury lawyer from Hull & Zimmerman, today by calling (303) 423-1770.
1 https://policyadvice.net/insurance/insights/truck-accident-statistics/
2 https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/road-users/large-trucks/
3 https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813110
4 https://www.gkbm.com/blog/2021/june/truck-accident-fatality-and-injury-facts-infogra/