How Do Truck Accident Investigations Work?

Truck accident investigations involve visiting the accident scene to collect evidence, including photos of marks on the roadway and footage from nearby surveillance cameras. They may also involve reviewing event data recorders, speaking with eyewitnesses, obtaining copies of police reports, and requesting documents from physicians and insurers. Investigators then carefully analyze all the evidence collected to determine how the accident happened and who was liable.

Police officers, trucking companies, insurance companies, and lawyers are parties involved in truck accident investigations. A skilled truck accident lawyer can conduct independent investigations and collaborate with all authorized investigators as you focus on recovering from your injuries. The lawyer can then help you receive compensation that accounts for all your losses, expenses, and damages.

Call Strong Law Offices Bloomington at 309-393-2928 for a free consultation with a seasoned truck accident lawyer if you or a loved one were injured in a truck accident.

Who Is Involved in Truck Accident Investigations?

Truck accident investigations start at the accident scene and involve several parties. These parties include:

Trucking Companies

Truckers often notify the trucking company of the accident. A safety director may get dispatched to the scene to conduct independent investigations. A team of lawyers and accident engineers may show up at the accident scene if the trucking company is large and well-established.

Local Police Officers

The trucker or anyone at the crash scene will call 911 to report the accident and request emergency medical assistance if anyone is injured. The police will arrive at the scene with emergency medical responders.

The responding officers will take pictures and videos of the accident scene, speak with witnesses, and give the driver who breached traffic laws a citation. The officers will then compile a report detailing all the facts gathered.

Insurance Companies

The insurance companies of the accident victim and liable party are involved in the investigation. Each seeks to obtain evidence proving they are not liable for covering resulting damages or losses. Unlike trucking companies, insurance companies usually start their investigations after the police have completed theirs.

Truck Accident Attorneys

Your attorney will collect evidence to prove that you did not cause the accident. The other party’s attorney will look for evidence that helps his or her client reduce or avoid liability as well.

How Do Authorities Respond to Truck Accidents in Illinois?

The Illinois State Police (ISP) will investigate reported traffic accidents. The police will also offer support in investigating traffic accidents to law enforcement agencies requiring that support. Such accidents must have led to injury or death of someone, property damage of $1500 or more, or damage to property worth $500 if any of the involved motor vehicles lack liability insurance.

Upon receiving a 911 call, the operator will dispatch an officer to the crash scene. The operator usually dispatches the nearby police car to respond to the accident and conduct the investigation. If there are no ISP officers nearby, the operator will determine if help from another agency is necessary, and if so, will send the request.

The first officer to reach the crash scene is usually responsible for investigating the crash. The ISP may assign two or more officers to a single accident scene if it involves injury or fatality, traffic congestion, or heated arguments between the involved parties. The officer must safeguard the accident scene and render first aid to the injured party until qualified medical personnel arrive.

The officer will start documenting the accident after ensuring the accident scene is safe. Crash scene documentation involves taking pictures and interviewing witnesses and involved parties. It also involves assessing and recording damage to the vehicle and other crucial factors at the crash scene. It may involve drawing a sketch diagram of the crash scene.

Truck vs. car accident statistics in Illinois show that truck accidents often result in fatalities. In the event of fatalities, the investigator will request the call operator to have a Traffic Crash Reconstruction Officer (TCRO) sent to the scene.

The TCRO will work closely with the investigating officer to recreate the accident, gather evidence, and prepare a report. The officer will then coordinate the removal of injured or killed persons, damaged vehicles, or debris from the roadway.

Types of Evidence Collected in Truck Accident Investigations

The evidence assembled in truck accident investigations is essential in building a strong personal injury claim and recovering adequate compensation.

Photographic and Video Evidence

Pictures and videos taken at the accident scene can show how the crash happened and who was to blame. Footage from nearby surveillance or traffic cameras can offer an impartial account of the crash and document the actions of all the involved parties and vehicles.

Event Data Recorder (EDR) Data

Most trucks feature an event data recorder (EDR), popularly called the “black box.” This device can record and store the actions of the vehicle and driver immediately before and after an accident.

Truck Inspection Reports

A licensed truck inspector must inspect a truck involved in a crash before getting towed away from the scene. A state police officer often prepares this report, but you will not find it in the official accident report. So, you must request a copy of it separately. The inspection report will feature crucial information regarding the physical status of the truck.

Eyewitness Statements

Statements from individuals who witnessed the accident are valuable evidence in truck accident investigations. Passengers in your vehicle, other involved drivers, bystanders, and even you can provide statements necessary to support your case. Names and contact information of eyewitnesses are present in the accident report prepared by the investigating officer at the accident scene.

Trucking Company Records

Inspection, maintenance, and repair records can be instrumental in proving liability in a common carrier accident. Reviewing these records can reveal whether the company acted negligently in the vehicle repair or maintenance.

Police Report

The police report is a crucial evidence in a motor vehicle accident case. Police officers can offer valuable information about how the accident happened and who was responsible, as they are among the first to show up at the accident scene. The contents of the police report can lay the ground for determining negligence in a truck accident.

Expert Witness Statement

The testimony of a professional, such as a road reconstructionist or mechanic, can help identify the liable party (or parties), especially in accidents where liability is unclear.

Medical Records

These documents help prove a direct causative link between your injuries and the truck accident. They also show how your injuries have and will continue to impact your health, ability to work, and overall life. Medical records include doctor’s notes, diagnostic reports, prescription records, hospital admission documents, and medical bills and invoices.

Financial Documentation

You may miss work because of injuries sustained in a truck accident. Your lawyer will compile financial documentation showing the money you lost because of the time you spent away from work seeking treatment and recuperating. These documents include wage statements and tax returns.

How Is Evidence Used to Determine Liability in a Truck Accident Case?

Tangible and incontestable evidence is crucial in determining liability, proving damages, and recovering adequate compensation in a truck accident case. The outcome of your claim depends on the types of evidence assembled and presented.

Collecting and organizing different forms of evidence are essential in determining liability and building a strong case. Photos of marks on the roadway could show the truck was speeding, forcing the driver to step on the brakes to avoid striking you.

EDR data can offer valuable information on how the vehicle functioned immediately before, during, and after the crash. The data, for instance, can reveal the truck’s speed, steering inputs, braking activity, seatbelt utilization, and airbag deployment.

If the truck was speeding, the EDR data provides evidence to hold the truck driver liable for your injuries. If EDR data analysis reveals the braking or steering system failed, you can pursue compensation from the manufacturers of those parts.

A careful review of the trucking company’s repair and maintenance records can unveil a pattern of negligence. Similarly, reviewing the driver’s employment history and license can uncover previous accidents that might show a pattern of negligence.

Collecting, preserving, and organizing relevant evidence in your case requires someone with a legal background and experience in resolving truck accident cases. That’s why you should know the questions to ask when hiring a truck accident lawyer to better your chances of hiring the right one for your unique needs and situation.Truck accident lawyers at Strong Law Offices in Bloomington, Illinois, can aggressively fight for your best interests and help you receive the highest possible compensation in a truck accident case. Contact us today for a free case review.