The Importance of Preserving Evidence in Truck Accident Cases

Few collisions cause as much damage as a truck accident. A single tractor-trailer is dozens of times heavier and several times longer than a standard passenger vehicle. No matter how fast or slow it goes, it can cause an enormous amount of damage when it collides with another vehicle or a stationary object. When you’re injured in a truck crash, you have to do quite a bit of planning and preparation to get the evidence you need to fight for compensation.

Working with the right attorney for your truck accident claim can put you in the best position to fight for what you deserve. Set up a consultation with our team of Biloxi truck accident attorneys by calling 228-436-6555.

Important Types of Evidence

Truck accidents typically leave behind a substantial amount of evidence, and it’s up to your attorney to use it in the most effective way possible. Some types of evidence to explore include:

• Evidence from the scene: It’s important to take as many photographs and videos as you can of a crash scene. You only get one chance to do so, and it’s better to have photos you’ll never use than it is to be missing a key photograph. Get documentation of the vehicles’ final resting places after the crash, skid marks, damage to public property, road conditions, location of the crash, and any other important factors.

• Vehicle data: The majority of trucks must have electronic logging devices, thanks to FMCSA regulations. Depending on the ELD that the truck in question had at the time of the crash, it could have a wealth of information that may help your case. It may have proof of the truck’s speed, braking patterns, hours in use, erratic driving maneuvers, and location.

• Driver records: Trucking logs may have evidence of when the truck was inspected when it was last maintained, and the driver’s breaks and shifts. This may show you whether or not there were any FMCSA regulation violations that may be relevant to your case. Additionally, the driver’s citation and accident history may uncover issues with the company’s hiring processes.

• Witness statements: This includes both eyewitness statements and statements from expert witnesses. Both types of witnesses can provide valuable insight that can turn the tide in your case.

• Medical records: It’s important to be able to prove your injuries and healing process.

• Police report: Make sure you get a copy of the police report after the crash. It should include information about any citations given or errors made by either driver.

Why Preserving Evidence is So Important

Many types of evidence can degrade and become useless when not preserved properly. However, when you do save evidence properly, it can help with establishing liability and proving damages. It’s often important to act quickly to prevent the destruction of evidence. While it’s illegal to destroy evidence, parties may do so when they know that the evidence is damning for their case.

How This Evidence Can Strengthen Your Claim

Proper use of trucking accident evidence can help you as you seek the compensation you deserve. By figuring out what went wrong and what the timeline of events was, your Biloxi attorney can determine liability. This targets their investigation and allows them to narrow the scope of their case. Your evidence can also help prove the extent of your injuries and other losses. Truck accidents can be extremely expensive for victims, but without evidence, you’ll have a hard time getting the insurance company to accept that. It is far harder to deny a claim for compensation when a victim has actual receipts of their losses.

Proper use of evidence may also help you fight any counterclaims that come your way. When another party is attempting to avoid liability, it’s common to file a counterclaim against the other party to pressure them into dropping their own case.

Fight for Compensation After a Truck Accident—Call Gardner Law Group

If a Biloxi truck accident has left you injured, traumatized, and unsure of what to do next, the team at Gardner Law Group can help you. Get the support you need by setting up a consultation with our team. Get started now by reaching out online or calling us at 228-436-6555.