If a truck or big rig collides with your vehicle, you may have sustained major injuries. Unfortunately, many people who are involved in these accidents need to be transported to the hospital right away, and as such, they are unable to collect a lot of evidence at the scene of the crash themselves. Fortunately, a truck accident law firm can help you by collecting as much evidence as possible, even if the accident happened days or weeks earlier. Here are some of the key types of evidence a personal injury attorney will work to collect following a truck accident that has left you injured.
A Police Accident Report
One of the first things that a truck accident attorney will work to collect after a truck accident has happened is the police report. If you had to go to the hospital immediately following the accident, the police or highway patrol will complete an accident report. This accident report typically lists any witness information, road and weather conditions when the accident happened, and may even state who the police feel is at fault for the accident and the reasons why.
The Blackbox From the Truck
Another important piece of evidence that a truck accident law firm will attempt to get their hands on after a truck accident has left you injured is the black box from the truck. Big rigs have black boxes in them that record important pieces of data. The black box will be able to show whether the driver was speeding and if they attempted to slam on their brakes. This information can be important, especially if there are suspicions the driver may have been speeding or may not have been paying attention to the roads in front of them.
The Logbooks For the Driver
Truck drivers are required to have a log book in their truck and log important information such as how long they slept, when they took a break, how long their last break was, and how many miles a day they are driving. There are laws that drivers have to follow in regard to how frequently they must take a break, how many miles per day they can drive, and how many hours they have to be off the road sleeping a night. A lawyer will subpoena the logbook to find out if a driver may have violated these laws, thus, potentially leading to the accident that left you injured.
Any Camera Footage Available
Lastly, a truck accident lawyer will work to obtain any camera footage that may be available. Some companies are putting cameras in the cabs of big rigs. Or there may be cameras on the road where the accident occurred. A lawyer will work to identify any cameras that may have caught the accident happening, and then work to obtain that footage. This can be key to showing how and why an accident happened, and who may be at fault for that accident.
The evidence that is collected after a truck accident can be key to showing why an accident happened and who is responsible or at fault for the accident happening. This is why it is so important for a personal injury attorney to find and collect as much information as possible. If you sustained injuries following a big rig accident, let a truck accident lawyer work hard to collect evidence and help fight for you to recover the maximum amount of money allowed by law for the injuries you sustained in the accident.
