5 Tools That Everyone In The Truck Accident Attorneys Industry Should Be Making Use Of

· 6 min read
5 Tools That Everyone In The Truck Accident Attorneys Industry Should Be Making Use Of

Truck Accident Litigation

There are a myriad of potential plaintiffs in litigation over truck accidents. These defendants may include the driver of the truck and their employer as well as a company that produced defective equipment or an individual contractor who loaded cargo incorrectly.

Many trucks are equipped with event data recorders, also referred to as black boxes. These can assist investigators in determining how the crash happened. Personal injury lawyers who are experienced be able to match this information with log books.

Investigation of the Scene

If a car accident happens, the first step in an investigation is to gather evidence in physical form and take photos. The causes of truck accidents differ. There are more aspects to consider. Trucks are often carrying dangerous goods, and even a minor collision can cause serious or fatal injuries.

This is because the investigation process is more complex than that of a standard car accident. It takes more time and requires the help of experts from a variety of areas. A qualified lawyer can help you locate the right experts to perform this work.

An exhaustive investigation into a truck accident involves interviewing eyewitnesses and visiting the scene of the accident. It also requires the help of experts who can retrace the events that led to the accident based on the evidence that is collected. This information is crucial to the case of a defendant being held accountable for the incident.


A lawyer must also inquire of the trucking company as well as the driver for any information they believe to be relevant to a specific case. This could include information on the safety policies of the trucking company, training procedures, and maintenance protocols. The background of the driver is also important. This includes any past incidents, reprimands, or drug/alcohol test results.

Another evidence source to be gathered is the data from the black box of the truck. These devices are similar to the ones that are installed in airplanes, and they can provide a wealth of information on what caused the accident. Attorneys must request this information as soon as possible, as it could be lost due to weather or the passing traffic.

Additionally, an attorney should also collect medical records from the victims of the crash. These documents will prove that the injuries suffered during the crash have caused long-lasting and substantial damage. It is important to keep these documents, together with any doctor's notes and treatment schedules.

Expert Witnesses

While the majority of accidents involving trucks result in an agreement between the insurance company and the injured party Some do not, and have to be tried in the court. Expert witnesses are essential in these cases. They are professionals with the knowledge and training required to evaluate the evidence in your case, and then provide their opinion to jurors. They can explain complex mechanical concepts, medical concepts and economic concepts to jurors with little or no knowledge of them.

Depending on the type of expert witness required they can range from as simple as a car mechanic who can figure out why your vehicle was damaged during the crash or metallurgists who perform a failure analysis on the specific part of your truck or pathologists who determine the cause of death. They might be required to look into and testify on particular elements of your case, such as the force or the crash and the velocity of the vehicle, or the reconstruction of the accident.

Medical experts are also required to assess the extent and severity of your injuries. Insurance companies will often contest this area, claiming that you exaggerate your injuries, or that these were pre-existing conditions and that the incident didn't cause any further damage. In these instances, your attorney will call an independent medical expert who will challenge the insurance company's doctor's testimony.

A witness who is an expert in the field can be useful in proving that a trucker was negligent. They will use their expertise to help the jury comprehend the reasons why the truck driver failed to do his or her job, the consequences this negligence caused, and the resulting financial repercussions of the inattention for you.

GPS Tracking

When truck accidents occur, it is not uncommon for their victims to suffer serious injuries. They need financial assistance to deal with medical expenses, lost wages, suffering and related costs. Cellino Law, a Manhattan truck accident lawyer firm, is ready to fight for justice and compensation for their clients.

One of the most effective tools in any case of accident is GPS tracking. These devices are a staple of the trucking industry and usually have a variety of vital information that can be used to determine the extent of liability. A Qualcomm system, for example provides important information including speed as well as braking performance, engine performance and hours of service. This information can be combined with other evidence, like eyewitness testimony to reconstruct the scene of a crash.

Dash cams and telematics data may also be valuable in a truck accident. Telematics refers to the data gathered by a vehicle's onboard computer. It is used for fleet driver coaching as well as to record incidents. This could include vital data like speed, harsh braking, phone usage and more. This information can be compared with the log books of the truck driver to determine whether accurate records were maintained.

A fax log of any communication about the trip before the accident is also crucial. This can include information about the route and destination, any stops on the way, and even a record of any messages between the driver of the truck and the company. A skilled personal injury lawyer can use this to prove that the truck driver was distracted, not following safe procedures, or taking unnecessary risks.

If a person injured in a collision with a truck is able to prove that the trucking company, driver or any other defendants did not uphold their duty of care and caused the accident, they should be held responsible for any injuries sustained due to. Plaintiffs must show that the defendants violated a law or regulation, and that this violation caused harm.  appleton truck accident lawyer  is easier to prove that a violation was not negligent when it comes to traffic laws, but federal regulations require a more complicated analysis.

Negotiating a Settlement

In many cases, a truck accident victim is able to settle their case without going to trial. The process of reaching settlement is to discuss the details of your case with an insurance firm which includes the amount you are legally entitled to under state law. A truck accident lawyer can assess your injuries and document the losses you have suffered due to them, in order to determine the worth of your case. The attorney can draw on the results of similar cases involving similar truck accidents as well as how juries have awarded victims in similar circumstances to determine a fair settlement amount.

Your lawyer may also work with the insurance company to make sure that the settlement you receive covers the documented damages. This includes the money you've lost because you didn't work to get treatment for your injury. Lawyers can assist in submitting the necessary documentation for these losses, such as old pay statements. If your injuries prevent you from returning to the same job, you could be entitled to compensation.

Insurance companies often begin the discussion with a low-ball offer. This is a standard tactic to test how desperate you are to negotiate a settlement and can impact the value of your case. A seasoned attorney can prevent being snubbed by a judge by remaining unflinching and never yielding to pressure to accept a low settlement.

Once your lawyer has reached a reasonable settlement amount, they will send a written settlement demand to the party responsible for the fault that must be addressed within 30 days, or your right to bring a lawsuit against the responsible party in court will be revoked. In some cases a trucking company will refuse to negotiate and your attorney will bring a lawsuit against the negligent party.

It is impossible to provide a general figure for how much a truck accident settlement is worth, as each situation is different such as the degree of your injuries, as well as the amount of time you'll be absent from work for medical treatments. Truck accident settlements can reach millions of dollars.