Commercial truck accidents continue to be one of the most hazardous incidents on highways, killing several drivers and pedestrians each year. If you were wounded in a truck accident or lost a loved one, you may seek someone to hold responsible for your medical expenditures. However, many instances are complicated and need a thorough investigation to ascertain how the incident happened and who is to blame.
All Hands on Deck
Following a truck accident, local, state, and federal authorities will conduct all launch investigations to discover what caused the accident. The Police Department or the State Patrol may respond to an accident first, especially if it happened on an interstate like I-80. Furthermore, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will have its inquiries and may collaborate with local and state authorities to investigate a collision.
Other authorities, such as the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration, may also log information and data on accident rates.
The extent to which these various authorities get involved will be determined by the kind of vehicle, the alleged cause of the crash, and the commodities being delivered. For example, a cargo spill or tanker truck disaster may entail hazardous material that must be thoroughly examined and cleaned up. Alternatively, if the driver was weary, the FMCSA may investigate the driver’s service records to see if the trucking firm coerced the driver to violate hours of service (HOS) requirements.
On the other hand, the trucking business will be engaged in the inquiry and will seek to unearth any proof of carelessness or infractions as quickly as possible. Trucking corporations may be fully aware of the reason for a crash, such as a drunk driver or equipment failure, and may choose to conceal it to avoid legal fines.
To protect your entitlement to compensation and hold a truck driver or corporation accountable for a collision, you should consult an experienced attorney. We may collaborate with law enforcement, accident reconstructionists, and automobile specialists at Horton Law to discover how the incident happened and who is liable for compensating you. We can rapidly acquire several sorts of evidence to support your case, depending on the circumstances of the incident.
Evidence Types That Can Break a Case
Semi-trucks are enormous, powerful vehicles that need frequent maintenance and should only be driven by qualified drivers. Any error may lead to a disastrous accident. Because of the complexity of these vehicles, various things may lead to a collision.
In our view, the following are the most critical pieces of evidence in a truck accident investigation:
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Accident reports
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Driver qualification files (DQF) include the driver’s records, certificates, accident history, medical history, and driving experience.
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Black box data contains HOS-mandated break records, the vehicle’s speed, and other vital information captured during a collision.
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Cargo specifics
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Reports on safety
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Equipment reports and maintenance records
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Hazardous waste certifications are examples of DOT certifications.
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Defective parts
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Drug and alcohol screenings
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Photos and videos of the accident
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Statements of witnesses
Why You Should Hire an Attorney
Victims might easily be lost during a complicated or high-profile truck collision investigation. Our personal injury lawyer at Horton Law consistently puts our clients first and argues for their best interests throughout a case. If a negligent truck driver or firm caused your trauma, we can investigate the crash, gather proof of wrongdoing, and fight for total compensation in a claim. Call us immediately at 888-822-6011 for a free consultation on your case.