Trucking Accident Investigation

The damages from any type of automobile accident can be significant, but one type that is known to commonly result in severe injuries and financial losses is a trucking accident. Due to the sheer weight of the vehicles involved, trucking accident damages tend to be more serious than those of accidents involving two cars. When a commercial truck impacts with another vehicle, the risk of catastrophic injuries is high. After a trucking accident occurs, it is important that an investigation begins as soon as possible. An experienced attorney, such as those at Reed & Terry, LLP, can perform a trucking accident investigation to determine liability so that our Sugar Land, TX, clients can receive the compensation they are due. Here, we go over some of the key factors of a successful trucking accident investigation.

Physical Investigation

Any trucking accident investigation must involve an examination of the physical evidence found at the site of the accident. We work with accident investigators to ensure that all necessary evidence is gathered from the scene. It is important that a physical investigation begin as soon as possible after the accident so that no evidence is lost. Some of the evidence that is essential to recreating the accident and determining liability includes the measurement of any skid marks and observations regarding the road, traffic, and weather conditions at the site of the accident.

Another important aspect of a physical investigation is an examination of the vehicles involved in the collision. We will take special care in going over the commercial truck. It is important to look into any cargo that the truck may have been carrying to determine if it was loaded properly. A mechanical examination of the truck is also vital to determining whether the truck was running properly, whether the tires had good tread, and whether any mechanical failures may have contributed to the accident.

Document Investigation

All trucking companies are required to keep certain records regarding the maintenance of their vehicles, as well as the training, work hours, and safety records of their drivers. These documents can play an important role in proving liability for a trucking accident. Our attorneys will obtain these documents and examine them to determine if the truck was properly maintained, if the driver had adequate training, and if the driver’s work and break schedule were in accordance with OSHA standards.

Other documents that may play an important role in a trucking accident investigation include:

• Police reports
• Medical records (which may be used to determine if there was drugs or alcohol in the driver’s system at the time of the accident)
• Any past driver citations
• Black box transcripts from the truck (which includes vital information such as the speed of the truck at the time of the accident and when the brakes were applied)
• Cell phone records, which may be used in the event that the driver is suspected of using their cell phone at the time of the accident.

All of these written documents help our investigators create a complete picture of the circumstances surrounding the trucking accident.

Verbal Investigation

A verbal investigation involves interviewing or listening to the recorded testimony of those involved in the accident. Aside from interviewing the drivers of both vehicles, we like to speak with any witnesses to the accident, as well as the police officers and other first responders who were called to the scene. The findings of a verbal investigation help to substantiate the evidence found in our physical and document investigation.

Contact Us

A thorough trucking accident investigation is the best way to prove liability in an accident and ensure that injury victims are justly compensated for their losses. At Reed & Terry, LLP, our attorneys work alongside experts in the field to create a detailed recreation of an accident that paints a clear picture of liability. To learn how our attorneys and investigators can help you collect the compensation you deserve following a trucking accident, contact us at your earliest convenience.