How to Handle Commercial Vehicle Accidents and Investigation

When involved in a commercial vehicle accident, victims and their families have a right to hold the drivers and truck companies accountable for their negligent actions that resulted in the accident. This claim could involve a very complex process which most victims are unable to handle without sound legal advice. Handling multiple personal injury cases and dealing with insurance claims can be quite overwhelming. That’s why it’s always recommended that you partner with a legal team that can handle the investigation and trial, if any, in the best way possible.

What caused the commercial vehicle accident?

Thorough investigations must be done to determine the cause of the truck accident. Some of the common causes of commercial vehicle accidents include:

  • Drunk driving
  • Distracted driving
  • Overspeeding
  • Poor truck maintenance
  • Reckless lane changes
  • Defects in the commercial vehicle
  • Driver fatigue

Proving that the commercial vehicle accident was caused by any of the issues mentioned above requires solid knowledge of the trucking industry and a proper analysis of how the crash occurred. Most victims are unable to perform such kind of thorough investigation without professional help. That’s why it’s critical to contact a truck accident lawyer immediately to help you investigate the cause of the accident.

Proving who is at fault in truck accident cases

For you to be given any form of compensation by an insurance company, you must prove that the company or employee driver’s negligent actions contributed to your injuries. The insurance company or court must take specific evidence into account when determining who was at fault. This means that a thorough investigation is necessary in order to ensure victims can qualify for any form of compensation.  

Different forms of evidence in commercial vehicle accidents

Commercial vehicle accident lawyers have different strategies of handling investigations. In most cases, they will examine the following documents in order to help prove liability and secure reasonable compensation for their client.

Witness statements: Your car accident lawyer will take the necessary steps to gather all the witness statements from the time of the incident. There are likely to be people who witnessed the crash and gave their side of the story. Statements from witnesses such as claims that the driver was reckless or over speeding can help in determining fault.

Police reports: During commercial car accidents, the police are usually called to the scene of the accident where they gather information regarding the crash and report it. Lawyers will review these reports and look out for any violations of the law to help in proving liability.

Surveillance cameras: Some commercial vehicles have trucks which are installed by the companies in order to ensure their drivers are always adhering to the rules. Your lawyer can obtain this footage and use it as key evidence to prove liability.

Other records: Your commercial truck lawyer may also request to review other records such as the delivery schedules and car inspection records as well as working hours recorded by the drivers which can help in proving liability.

If you or a loved one was involved in a commercial car accident, choose a lawyer with extensive experience handling this type of claims to increase your chances of getting a successful outcome.