How to Preserve Evidence for a Truck Accident Claim

If you or somebody you care about is involved in a truck accident caused by the careless or negligent actions of a truck driver or trucking company, you should be able to receive compensation for what happened. However, securing compensation can be incredibly challenging, particularly when going up against aggressive insurance carriers and well-funded trucking companies. Here, we want to discuss how to preserve evidence in the aftermath of a truck accident as well as why this evidence will be important as you work to secure compensation.

Why is evidence important after a truck accident in Arizona?

To be sure, the evidence is crucial after any type of vehicle accident in Arizona. This is particularly true for accidents involving large trucks. When a crash occurs involving a large truck, there are going to be many other parties involved that would typically not a present in a traditional vehicle crash. This includes aggressive insurance carriers, well-funded trucking companies, as well as possible legal teams for these companies. When going up against these parties, it is crucial to preserve all evidence that can be used to determine liability.

How is evidence preserved after a truck crash?

The best way to preserve evidence in the aftermath of a truck accident is to seek assistance from a skilled attorney who can handle this entire process for you. An attorney will take any evidence gathered at the actual truck accident scene while also conducting an independent investigation to obtain additional evidence that can prove liability.

An experienced Scottsdale truck accident attorney will ensure that any evidence gathered is properly obtained and recorded and entered into the insurance claims process or the civil court system if a lawsuit is necessary. Another critical aspect of this process is not allowing your vehicle to be repaired until it has been examined by all parties. This includes your legal team, your insurance carrier, and the insurance carrier of the other party.

What kind of evidence is used in a truck crash?

There are various types of evidence used in the aftermath of a truck crash to determine liability. In many ways, the initial evidence obtained in these cases is similar to evidence obtained at any kind of crash. This includes:

• Photograph taken at the scene of the crash
• Statements from eyewitnesses at the scene
• Video surveillance from nearby buildings or dash cams
• Police reports

However, truck crashes are more complex. These vehicles are highly regulated, and there are other records that will need to be obtained with the assistance of an attorney after the crash occurs. This includes:

• The electronic logging device (ELD) used by the truck driver that records the driver’s hours and compliance with federal regulations.
• The event data recorder (EDR) that monitors the truck systems and is essentially the “black box” that will provide valuable information.
• The truck company’s most recent inspection and maintenance records.
• The driving record of the truck driver involved.
• Mobile device data of the truck driver.

An attorney will obtain all of this evidence and work to reconstruct the chain of events leading up to the accident systematically. If necessary, an attorney will work with a trusted truck accident reconstruction expert who has experience handling these cases. This type of accident must be investigated meticulously and carefully in order to ensure that victims recover the compensation they are entitled to.