After an auto accident with a tractor-trailer truck, you may need to prove that you weren't liable for the accident. It's important to preserve evidence from your truck-related accident to prove that you weren't at fault and demonstrate the liability of the truck driver. Here are a few important pieces of evidence that can help you strengthen your case.
1. Your Vehicle
Though it's understandable that you want to get your vehicle fixed as quickly as you can, don't do anything to alter its condition until you're given permission from the insurance company. Your vehicle is one of the most important pieces of evidence from the accident.
It can offer insight as to how the truck came into contact with your vehicle and provide details regarding the speed and driving patterns of the truck driver. Even if you take pictures of your vehicle directly after the accident, these might not be sufficient if a question arises regarding a specific detail of the incident. If a picture can't be used to answer this question, a reinspection of your vehicle may need to be completed.
2. The Truck's Inspection Report
When a tractor-trailer truck or commercial truck gets into an accident, it's necessary for a truck inspector with the appropriate certifications to inspect the truck before it's removed from the location of the accident. The inspector will evaluate the truck to determine what factors contributed to the accident. They will specifically inspect the truck for any safety violations or overdue repairs that may have played a role in the accident.
The truck's inspection report is an invaluable resource for proving that you weren't at fault for the accident. Though you won't automatically be given a copy of this report, your truck accident lawyer can request a copy for your use.
3. On-Board Computers and GPS Devices
Even though commercial trucks and 18-wheelers are commonly equipped with on-board computers and GPS devices, this equipment is also found in most passenger vehicles produced within the last few years. The onboard computer and GPS data offer data that yields a reliable picture of the events leading up to the accident.
These devices can produce information regarding the vehicle or truck's rate of speed, the position of the steering wheel, and whether the brakes were applied. The information from this equipment is helpful in reconstructing the events directly leading up to the accident.
If an individual involved in the accident is unable to or refuses to provide accurate information about the minutes before the accident, equipment from the truck and passenger vehicle will fill in the gaps.
Share29 February 2020
