Accidents between trucks and cars often cause serious injuries or fatalities for the occupants of the car because of the large size of the trucks. If you are ever involved in an accident with a large commercial vehicle, like a delivery truck or city bus, getting the right evidence will be an important step for you, especially if you want to seek damages. Here is a list of the type of evidence used in Texas courts to show that the truck driver, or the parent company, may be responsible for the accident and the damage it caused.
Electronic logs
All commercial truck drivers have to follow Hours of Service regulations. These regulations require drivers to take a certain amount of breaks to avoid exhaustion. If a driver violated these regulations by skipping breaks or driving too many hours, the electronic log might show evidence of these kinds of violations.
Witness statements and photos
If possible, take pictures of the scene, including the other vehicle, your car, injuries to yourself and your passengers, broken glass, and tire marks. Also, try and get written or video statements from any witnesses.
Police accident reports
The police will make an accident report. It is a good idea to get a copy of the police report for your own records. You might not realize this, but when a commercial vehicle is involved in an accident, the police will have a truck inspector examine the vehicle before it is taken from the scene. The inspector will look for possible defects, like worn tires, brake problems, overweight or imbalanced loads that may have contributed to the accident.
Alcohol and drug test reports
When an accident involves a physical injury or fatality, federal regulations require that the driver of the commercial vehicle be tested for possible alcohol or drug impairment. If a commercial truck driver uses illegal substances or exceeds the dosage on some prescriptions, it could affect a driver’s reaction time.
An attorney with experience in truck accidents might help you collect the evidence you need. For example, an attorney can send a communication, called a spoliation letter, to ensure that all accident-related evidence, such as reports, witness statements, and test results, is preserved.