Important Evidence in Truck Accidents
While you have the right to take legal action after a truck accident in Chicago, you’ll need to prove your case to win it. Most truck accident lawsuits are based on negligence – the argument that a truck accident happened because someone else was careless.
At the end of the day, you will have to demonstrate that a truck driver, a trucking company, or someone else was negligent and changed your life forever. You’ll need strong evidence to back your allegations.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the evidence that’s most helpful to plaintiffs in truck accident cases.
Truck Black Box Data
Many commercial trucks are equipped with Event Data Recorders (EDRs), sometimes known as black boxes. EDRs can record critical information about a truck accident, including:
- The truck’s speed
- Engine RPMs
- Engine loads
- Restraint usage
- Driver inputs related to braking, downshifting, turns, or acceleration
- Force of impact of a collision
EDRs aren’t always recording. Rather, they’re designed to activate when there’s a sudden change in the truck’s velocity or another triggering event. Data can provide information for up to 5 seconds preceding the truck accident.
Dash Cam Footage
Many commercial trucks have dashboard video cameras that continually record traffic conditions. When a truck is involved in an accident, the footage from a rig’s dash cam can potentially contain invaluable details about location, crash angles, parties, driver behaviors, and weather.
Cell Phone Records
Truck drivers are prohibited from using a hand-held cell phone or electronic device while driving. Even hands-free cell phone use can be too distracting for a driver. Cell phone records can indicate whether a truck driver was using their phone and was likely distracted at the time of the crash.
Expert Testimony
Truck accidents are complex events. Many times, experts and specialists need to weigh in to properly evaluate a collision, assess causation, and determine liability. Experts that might be able to offer helpful insight and testimony in a truck accident case could include accident reconstructionists, forensics specialists, mechanical engineers, trucking industry professionals, toxicologists, and medical professionals.
Forensic Evidence From the Scene of the Crash
Physical and forensic evidence from the scene of a truck accident can be invaluable in building a winning legal claim for damages.
Skid marks, damage to vehicles and other property, debris, and damage to traffic barriers and signage can help to paint a picture of what happened and why.
Driver Logs and Records
FMCSA trucking regulations require truck drivers to maintain records and logs about their rig and driving status. These records can potentially point to violations of federal hours of service limitations or other driver-related factors that could have contributed to a truck accident.
Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Records
Trucking companies have an obligation to inspect their vehicles at least once every 12 months, while drivers have to conduct pre- and post-trip inspections much more regularly. These records can indicate whether an unsafe vehicle was potentially kept in service, thereby creating an undue threat of harm to the truck driver and other motorists on the road.
How an Experienced Chicago Truck Accident Attorney Can Help You Get the Evidence You Need
Don’t stress about what evidence you’ll need to win your truck accident case or how to get it. Focus on recovering from your injuries and trust the award-winning Chicago truck accident lawyers at Taxman, Pollock, Murray & Bekkerman, LLC to handle the rest.
We’ll investigate your case, enlist the help of trusted experts, interview witnesses, and exhaust every avenue we can to uncover the evidence that’s needed to hold the trucking company accountable for your crash.
We offer a free consultation, so contact our Chicago, IL, law office today.