Nearly 500,000 truck accidents happen in the United States every year. Accidents involving 18-wheelers or semi-trucks are dangerous and deadly. If you have been injured as the result of the fault and/or negligence of a truck driver, it is your right to seek compensation.
However, proving the truck driver involved was at fault or negligent is not always easy. It will require the collection and preservation of important evidence such as police reports, open records, crash reports, and other pertinent evidence.
If you have been injured in a truck accident, work with a car accident attorney that knows how to conduct a thorough investigation. Contact Steinberg Injury Lawyers to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today. Learn more about the evidence you need to get after a truck accident below.
The Police Report
The moment law enforcement arrives at the scene of an accident, they open a police report and begin their investigation. The police report includes information about the scene of the accident, identities of the people involved, vehicles involved, as well as insurance information.
Furthermore, police reports often list the names of witnesses and whether or not anyone required medical attention. Police officers will sometimes come to their own conclusion about why the crash happened and document it in the report.
Open Records
An open record provides additional information concerning the accident that can be beneficial to a car accident attorney. The information included in open records may include:
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Time that the police officer arrived on the scene
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Information about the responding officers
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Record of the radio dispatch that identifies vehicles involved and law enforcement response
A truck accident lawyer can use this report to identify potential inaccuracies in the reporting that may be beneficial to your case. In addition to open records, you should request transcripts from the hospital that received the initial call from law enforcement officials.
Crash Report
Since truck accidents are typically complex, the police may invite a state investigator from the department of public safety to the scene. They conduct investigations that are more in-depth than the typical initial police report. The findings derived from their crash report can have a significant impact on the outcome of a personal injury case.
Other Needed Evidence After a Truck Accident
In addition to the aforementioned evidence, data from the truck may be available via the event data recorder (EDR) located in the truck. Sometimes called a “black box,” this device records information from the time of the accident such as:
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The speed of the truck
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Gear shifts as well as when the driver used their brakes
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Length of driving time
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GPS location
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Inspection reports
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Communication with the driver and their company
Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer
You cannot always rely on the insurance provider, truck company, and police to provide you with the evidence that you need to prove fault in a truck accident. An experienced and proven truck accident lawyer has the ability to obtain and preserve critical evidence.
If you have been injured due to the negligence of a truck driver, don’t wait until the evidence is old, mishandled, or lost. Contact Steinberg Injury Lawyers at 1-800-350-8888 for a free, no-obligation consultation
