The Importance of Conducting a Truck Accident Investigation as Soon as Possible

Trucking companies are typically well-funded and represented by a team of aggressive lawyers and investigators, all of whom come out swinging if they sense an impending lawsuit. Injured parties should be ready to meet any proof offered by the trucking company with evidence of their own, so if you were involved in an accident with a truck driver, it is critical to meet with an experienced Fort Lauderdale truck accident attorney who can help you start building a legal team and investigating your claim.

Law Enforcement Investigation

Collisions between semi-trucks and passenger vehicles are almost always serious, which means that law enforcement officers will assuredly turn up within minutes of the crash. Though they will be responsible for securing the scene of the accident, speaking with the parties involved, and eventually writing up a report on the events that occurred, they most likely won’t have the time to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash. This task is instead left to trucking company personnel and an injured party’s advocates, who can go over the scene with a fine tooth comb.

Crash Site Investigations

Some of the most convincing evidence that a claimant can present at court can be found at the accident scene itself. Roadway evidence is particularly important in helping prove what happened on the date of the accident and who was at fault. This includes:

• Skid marks and tire tracks;
• Gouges in the pavement or dirt;
• Damage to nearby buildings, guardrails, curbs, and other structures;
• Stains from brake fluid or engine leaks; and
• Glass from broken windows and other vehicle debris.

Vehicle-related evidence, including photographs of the final resting positions of the vehicles, as well as photos of property damage and points of impact, can also help track the sequence of events in question. While other evidence, including the injured party’s medical bills, eyewitness testimony, and video recordings can also prove fault and damages, this kind of proof can generally be collected at a later date. Crash site investigations, on the other hand, need to happen quickly, as traffic disturbances and inclement weather can erase proof of a crash in a short period of time.

Assigning Liability

The results of a crash site investigation will largely dictate who will be held liable for a truck accident. Proof that the truck was leaking prior to the crash can, for instance, help the injured party pursue a claim against the trucking company for its failure to maintain the vehicle. A lack of skid marks, on the other hand, can help prove that a driver failed to avoid the crash and so was probably distracted at the time of the accident. It is not uncommon, in these kinds of cases, for multiple parties to be held liable for a crash, including the trucking company, the driver, or a vehicle parts manufacturer.

Were You Involved in a Truck Accident?

The injuries resulting from truck accidents are almost always devastating, leaving victims to deal with expensive medical bills and even job loss. Fully investigating a claim can make all the difference in whether an injured party can recoup these losses, so if you were hurt in a truck accident, please call Boone & Davis at 954-566-9919 for help from one of our experienced truck accident lawyers.

Resource:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.066.html