The injuries sustained in truck accidents are often extensive and may require months of medical treatment and rehabilitation. This makes it all the more important to gather evidence that can help you establish your claim for compensation.
Police record
Seek the records created by the officer who got to the scene first. This will help you get a general idea of what occurred, but it should be noted that this will often not be enough to fight off a challenge by the trucking company. Truck accidents are common, and thus they are often ready with their own set of attorneys to fight lawsuits.
Hours of service
One of the biggest problems in the trucking industry are drivers going over their recommended hours of service. States understood the dangers of driving under pressure and while tired and thus imposed laws restricting how many hours a driver could be on the road. Unfortunately, not every company adheres to these laws, and thus, accidents occur. Some documents you can collect to prove a violation of this law include:
- Driving logbook
- Dispatch instructions
- Blackbox (includes hours driven)
Personal records of driver
In some cases, it is the fault of the driver alone that they were involved in an accident. Evidence you may want to obtain includes personal cellphone records that may show that they were on the phone while they were driving. Another item includes the driver’s driving qualifications as they may show that they were not up to date.
Although having evidence is critical to your case, it is still recommended to seek an attorney’s services to ensure that those pieces of evidence are used properly throughout your case.
