How do truck accident investigations work?
Truck accident victims require substantial compensation to reach full recovery and get justice for their trauma and losses. The Johnson Firm has extensive experience conducting thorough truck accident investigations and using their findings to build strong injury cases for truck accident victims. Connect with the Lake Charles truck accident lawyers as soon as possible after your accident, and we will start an immediate investigation.
What’s involved in a truck accident investigation?
When investigating your truck accident, your attorneys will seek to discover the cause of the accident and identify the at-fault party. Collecting a settlement requires demonstrating liability against the negligent party, so your lawyers will also use the investigation to gather crucial evidence supporting your claim.
At-fault parties can include one or more of the following parties:
- Truck operator
- Trucking company
- Vehicle or part manufacturer
- A government office, if operations under its governance (road conditions, traffic signals, street lighting) contributed to the event
- A third-party driver
The Lake Charles truck accident attorneys at the Johnson Firm will perform various services to investigate the crash. They meet with accident reconstructionists, consult with trucking and vehicle experts, acquire data from the truck’s electronic logging device (ELD), and access available traffic or security camera footage. Your attorney can also speak with witnesses, review the vehicle and vehicle operator’s history, and explore any other potential sources of information.
How is a commercial trucking accident investigation different from a typical car accident investigation?
Because commercial truck drivers and trucking companies must abide by very specific Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, there is more to look for in a trucking investigation. For example, truckers must comply with hours of operation and rest periods. They must also conduct truck inspections before and after driving shifts and abide by strict alcohol-use regulations.
Trucking companies must vet, train, and evaluate drivers, remove unsafe drivers, and collect driver ELD documentation. They must ensure their vehicles are safe and undergo required inspections and maintenance. Other regulations govern cargo weight, freight loading, and restraints used to secure cargo. Overweight trucks are harder to bring to a stop, and improperly loaded trailers are difficult to control. They can easily become unbalanced, leading to jackknife accidents, rollovers, or other crashes.
Does the FMCSA investigate truck accidents? Not in every instance, but it does require any carrier companies whose vehicles have been involved in crashes to provide an accident register, including specified information, to the FMCSA. Unfortunately, the investigation is usually performed by the company itself.
How can an investigation help my injury case?
A thorough investigation ensures correct identification of the at-fault party and supplies evidence to support your claim against them. Your attorney will also investigate the effects of the accident on your life, accounting for your physical pain, injuries, limitations, emotional distress, financial costs incurred by medical bills, lost income, loss of enjoyment of life, and other related expenses.
Victims do not always recognize the extent of an accident’s consequences on their lives. The experienced team at The Johnson Firm will examine your situation with compassion and precision and work to secure a settlement accounting for every loss.
The Johnson Firm is committed to partnership
The seasoned Lake Charles truck accident lawyers at The Johnson Firm are ready to investigate your accident. Our legal professionals will determine who is at fault and present the necessary evidence to support a just settlement demand. We are here to fight on your side and see justice served. Call (337) 433-1414 or send an electronic message to connect with us today.