Critical Evidence For Truck Accident Cases
Truck accidents can be devastating, especially for passenger vehicle occupants. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, most deaths in truck accidents are passenger vehicle occupants. Because trucks are bigger than passenger vehicles, they almost always cause more destruction to passenger vehicles than the destruction that occurs when two passenger vehicles get involved in an accident. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a truck weighs approximately 20 to 30 times as much as a passenger vehicle and is taller with greater ground clearance. The ground clearance that trucks have can result in a passenger vehicle under-riding a truck in an accident. Unfortunately, if a truck accident does not leave a passenger vehicle occupant dead, it will most likely leave them with severe injuries.
Unfortunately, truck accidents are quite common in Florida. Some of the common causes of truck accidents in Florida include;
- Distracted driving
- Impaired drivers
- Inadequately trained drivers
- Poor truck maintenance
- Overloaded trailers
- Drowsy driving
- Reckless driving
The most common cause of truck accidents in Florida, however, is negligence. Fortunately, if another party’s negligence results in a truck accident that injures you, you might be qualified to file an insurance claim against the at-fault party and obtain compensation. If, for instance, the fault lies with the truck company, you might be able to obtain quite a good amount of compensation. But, for you to obtain compensation after a truck accident, you must prove your case using factual and admissible evidence.
Evidence for Truck Accident Cases
For you to prove your case after a truck accident and obtain the compensation you deserve, you need to gather the right evidence. Some of the items that can help you prove liability on the part of a truck driver, truck company, manufacture, or any other liable party include the following:
Accident Reports
After a truck accident, the police usually arrive at the accident scene and write an official report. This report can be very useful in your truck accident case. If a truck inspector was sent to the accident scene to examine the truck before it was removed from the accident scene, ensure you also get a copy of the report that the inspector wrote.
Witness Statements
A statement (whether verbal or written) from someone who saw what happened moments before your truck accident can help you prove your claim.
Photos and Videos
Photos and/or videos taken soon after a truck accident at an accident scene can provide important details about how an accident occurred. Photos and videos can also help prove the extent of your injuries since, while injuries heal over time, photos and videos don’t change.
Electronic Logs
Usually, trucks are fitted with Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) that record crucial information, such as how long a truck driver has been driving. If, for instance, your accident happened because of a drowsy truck driver, these logs can help you prove that fact.
Event data recorder (“EDR”) or black box
Trucks are equipped with EDR’s to record information after a traffic collision. Common information obtained from an EDR includes, “the speed of a vehicle”, “the breaking of a vehicle”, “the location of impact” and “any evasive maneuvers taken by the driver.”
Contact a Coral Springs Truck Accident Lawyer
While you can obtain some pieces of evidence, such as photos and/or videos, on your own, obtaining other pieces of evidence requires the help of a skilled truck accident lawyer. For help with evidence collection and your truck accident case, contact one of our experienced Coral Springs truck accident lawyers at Lyons & Snyder today.
Resources:
iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/large-trucks
