Truck Accident Investigations: A Comprehensive Guide by Dressie Law Firm

Overview of Truck Accident Investigations

Why Truck Accident Investigations Are Different

Investigating truck accidents is significantly different from regular vehicle collisions. Truck accidents are often more complex, and multiple factors could be in play. Factors such as driver fatigue, improper maintenance, overloading, and defective truck parts can all contribute to a single accident.

Moreover, trucking accidents will often fight back and make your investigation process longer and more difficult. The law may also be on their side, as it allows them to get rid of certain information within a couple of months.

As a result, determining liability in truck accidents requires a more detailed investigation. It goes beyond the surface, involving analysis of logbooks, maintenance records, and the truck’s black box data.

Truck accident cases also involve multiple parties, making these cases more intricate. Potentially liable parties may include the following:

• Truck drivers: Truckers are often responsible for accidents when they engage in speeding, reckless driving, DUI, or driving beyond the hours of service limit.

• Trucking companies: Truck owners can be held responsible for inadequate training, unreasonable schedules that lead to driver fatigue, or failure to maintain their fleet properly.

• Truck manufacturers: If the accident resulted from a defective part, the manufacturer could be held liable.

• Cargo loaders: Improperly loaded or overloaded cargo can lead to accidents. Therefore, the parties responsible for loading the truck can be held accountable.

• Maintenance and repair companies: These entities might be liable if poor maintenance or faulty repairs contribute to the accident.

• Government entities: There are times when poor road conditions or inadequate signage maintained by government entities contribute to accidents.

It is often hard to handle the claims process while still recovering from the accident and its aftermath. If your truck accident case involves more than one liable party, it becomes even harder to handle on your own.

The legal team at Dressie Law Firm has the resources, experience, and knowledge to get you the justice you deserve. Let our truck accident lawyer help you!

Who Conducts Investigations After a Truck Accident Occurs?

The Truck Accident Investigation Process

Investigating a truck accident is a comprehensive process that involves several key steps to determine the causes and liabilities. Here are the typical steps involved in a truck accident investigation:

1. Gathering physical evidence, such as photographs, skid marks, vehicle damage, and road conditions, which may help reconstruct the accident scene
2. Interviewing witnesses to obtain their accounts of the accident
3. Speaking with the truck driver and any other drivers involved to get their versions of events
4. Retrieving electronic data from the truck’s black box (Electronic Control Module or ECM) to determine the vehicle’s speed, braking, and other parameters before and during the accident
5. Reviewing the truck’s maintenance and inspection records to assess whether any mechanical issues may have contributed to the accident
6. Inspecting the driver’s logbook to determine if they were in compliance with hours-of-service regulations and were not fatigued at the time of the accident
7. Conducting drug and alcohol testing for the truck driver and other involved parties if necessary
8. Engaging accident reconstruction experts to recreate the accident and establish its cause, which may involve vehicle dynamics, physics, and engineering analysis
9. Ensuring the trucking company complied with federal and state regulations, including vehicle weight limits, licensing, and safety protocols
10. Seeking opinions from experts, such as medical professionals, to provide insight into causes, injuries, and damages
11. Documenting property damage, medical bills, and any other financial losses incurred as a result of the accident
12. Interviewing the truck accident victim to take their statements and document their non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering

Let Dressie Law Firm Help You 

Truck accidents differ significantly from regular vehicle collisions due to their severity and complexity. A thorough investigation is crucial to determining liability and ensuring maximum compensation for truck accident victims.

Dressie Law Firm can help you recover damages by conducting a comprehensive investigation of your accident. Our experienced team understands the intricacies involved, from gathering critical evidence to negotiating with insurance companies and, if needed, going to court.

By entrusting your case to our experienced law firm, you gain access to skilled attorneys dedicated to bringing you justice.

Call us today to schedule a free consultation, or read our truck accident FAQ if you want to learn more.