| Immediately following a trucking accident, | | | | even speak to police immediately after your truck |
| evidence must be compiled for possible criminal | | | | accident, it is important to seek the assistance of |
| charges as well as civil charges, such as a | | | | a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible so |
| personal injury lawsuit. The necessary evidence | | | | they can analyze your police report and start |
| will focus on the truck accident scene, property | | | | collecting evidence vital to your case. |
| damage, injuries involved, and information about | | | | Evidence from the Trucking Company |
| both the truck driver and the trucking company. | | | | Beyond the evidence that must be collected at |
| Evidence at the Scene of the Truck Accident | | | | the scene of the trucking accident, evidence must |
| It is rare when a truck accident scene does not | | | | be collected from the trucking company. This |
| provide enough evidence to allow investigators to | | | | evidence will contain information regarding: |
| determine what happened and who was at fault. | | | | • Driver qualification files and proper |
| Processing and preserving evidence at the scene | | | | documentation; |
| of the accident should be done by police, but it is | | | | • Hours of service regulations; |
| important for you as the victim to record what | | | | • Drug and alcohol testing the company has |
| has occurred, including photographs of the | | | | performed on the driver in the accident; |
| damage and the area, gathering witness | | | | • Information regarding hazardous materials |
| information and so on. | | | | transportation to include the companies' policy on |
| Attention to detail is an absolute requirement in | | | | such materials; |
| preserving evidence as it includes: | | | | • Securing depositions of company personnel |
| • Carefully photographing the scene of the | | | | including the driver; |
| accident (to include all vehicles involved, all placards | | | | • Maintenance records, trip inspection reports, |
| and markings on the commercial vehicle; personal | | | | driver's logs, and other applicable documents for |
| injuries of all parties involved, and the surrounding | | | | the commercial vehicle; and |
| area); | | | | • Information on all shippers or cargo handlers |
| • Collecting and photographing physical | | | | who may share liability for the victim's damages. |
| evidence such as skid marks and crash debris; | | | | A full-blown trial on a trucking accident may also |
| • Notating the immediate area to include sight | | | | involve an accident reconstruction performed by |
| distances, environmental conditions, and any visual | | | | experts in the field. It is vital that none of the |
| impediments; | | | | vehicles involved in the truck accident are repaired |
| • Securing police accident documents to | | | | prior to this occurring as it could prevent accurate |
| include any photos and videos the investigating | | | | results from being compiled. |
| officer compiled; | | | | After collecting the evidence from the truck |
| • Immediately arranging to have the | | | | accident scene and from the trucking company, |
| commercial truck inspected by an expert; | | | | your truck accident lawyer will be able to |
| • Securing the commercial vehicle's black box | | | | determine who is at fault and start working on |
| and arranging for the contained information | | | | your case. Even something as simple as a log |
| regarding pre and post accident speeds and | | | | book can determine negligence if the truck driver |
| conditions to be downloaded; and | | | | was working longer hours than allowed by federal |
| • Talking to witnesses and the investigating | | | | law. That's why a qualified truck accident attorney |
| officer and recording their statements. | | | | is so imperative to your personal injury case. |
| If you are too injured to take photographs or | | | | |