Trucking companies usually have a battery of lawyers to aid in their defense in the event of a truck-car crash.
These companies will immediately send investigators to the crash scene, which means that advocates for an injured crash victim must do the same.
Law enforcement response
When law enforcement officers arrive at the scene of a truck-car crash, they will secure the area and write up a report. However, they rarely have time to conduct a thorough investigation, a job left both to trucking company personnel and advocates for injured victims.
Kinds of evidence
Roadway evidence that investigators look for at a crash site might include:
– skid marks and tire tracks
– gouges in the dirt or pavement
– damage to curbs, buildings, guardrails and other structures
– fluid stains such as brake fluid, engine oil or blood
– vehicle debris and glass from broken windshields
– points of impact between truck and car
– final resting position of the vehicles
– cargo separated from either vehicle
Crash site investigations should take place as quickly as possible since inclement weather or traffic disturbances can cause signs of an accident to disappear in a short period of time.
Assigning liability
Truck accident cases are often more complex than a crash between passenger vehicles. An injured victim has the right to expect financial compensation to cover medical expenses, pain and suffering and more. In this regard, multiple parties might bear responsibility for the crash. Examples include the truck driver, the company that owns the truck and the company that maintains the vehicle should the investigation find that equipment failure was at least partially at fault for the accident. Assigning liability revolves around details and begins with a timely crash site investigation.