11 Mar HOW DO LAWYERS INVESTIGATE TRUCK ACCIDENTS?
Posted By Gruenberg Kelly Della || 11-Mar-2020
After getting into a motor vehicle accident with a truck, you may face obstacles if you want to file a personal injury claim. Commercial truck drivers are often trained by companies to deny responsibility in accidents, and companies have their own lawyers to help deflect blame.
Truck accidents can cause more serious injuries than accidents involving passenger cars because of their size and weight. Unique types of truck accidents can include underrides, which occur when passenger cars slide beneath the trailer of a truck, as well as jackknifing, when the truck’s cab and trailer are facing opposite directions. Injuries can include brain and head trauma, spinal cord and neck injuries, broken bones, burns, lacerations, internal bleeding, and more.
Gathering and preserving evidence is the most important aspect in a truck accident case, which is why it’s important to hire a lawyer as soon as possible to investigate your accident. While the statute of limitations for truck accidents is typically two years, waiting longer than a month can sometimes harm your case, as important evidence may have disappeared.
When you hire a personal injury lawyer, investigations can involve:
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- Investigating the scene of the accident, which includes taking photos and videos of debris, vehicle damage, and other physical evidence
- Interviewing witnesses, which can include other drivers and first responders
- Collecting documentation such as medical records, police accident reports, and witness statements
- Reviewing the truck driver and truck company records, including log books, personnel files, company maintenance records, inspection reports, and more
- Examining the truck: A proper evaluation can show whether the truck has a defect or equipment failure
- Obtaining black box information: Trucks typically have event data recorders that contain important data regarding the accident
Some lawyers even hire reconstructionists to recreate the scene of the accident and collect evidence, as well as black box specialists that can analyze data.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
In a truck accident, it can be challenging to establish liability, as the majority of truck drivers are independent contractors that don’t fall under the company’s insurance provider. There are also others that can be involved in a truck accident, such as the maintenance company responsible for truck inspections, the owner of the cargo that may have fallen out of the truck and caused damage, and the truck manufacturer.
A personal injury law firm is needed to establish responsibility. Don’t wait too long before hiring an attorney that can help you recover from your injuries by pursuing fair and full compensation.
More than $100 Million Recovered for Clients
Nothing is more inconvenient than suffering from injuries, especially when they can easily rack up costs in medical bills, lost wages and income, property damage, and funeral and burial costs, if the accident resulted in a death. Our personal injury attorneys strive to provide clients with as much convenience as possible through personalized legal solutions, a contingency fee basis, and free consultations. We understand how stressful your financial burden must be, which is why we utilize our resources to seek optimal results.
Call Gruenberg Kelly Della at (888) 305-6372, or contact us onlineif you’re suffering from injuries after a truck accident. Because of their size, truck accidents often cause serious injuries, which can rack up costly medical bills in order to treat through surgeries and hospital stays. Our truck accident attorneys can pursue your deserved compensation.