The consequences of a truck accident can be devastating for injured victims. Pain, sky-high medical bills, disabilities, and emotional trauma can cause significant burdens for survivors. California law allows you to claim compensation for these losses, but you must establish that the other party was at fault.
Proving fault in trucking accident cases requires substantial evidence. Working with an experienced California truck accident lawyer can help you collect the proof you need for a solid case. Here are some examples.
Accident Scene Evidence
Gathering evidence for a truck accident claim at the crash scene can greatly benefit your chances of success. Sometimes, victims are too injured to do anything except get emergency help. Prioritize your health first. But if your injuries do not prevent you from doing so, you should:
- Take photos and video of the accident scene. Capture the damage to your vehicle, damage to the commercial truck, any debris, skid marks, road conditions, and your injuries.
Ensure your photos capture the scene from all angles, ideally before the vehicles are moved.
Police Reports and Officer Testimony
You should call the police after any truck crash, even if it does not initially seem significant. When law enforcement arrives at the scene, the responding police officer will create a truck accident police report. This document will include the date, time, and location of the wreck, as well as the occupants and vehicles involved and whether anyone suffered injuries. The officer will also indicate their initial assessment of who was at fault for the crash. While the police report is not admissible at trial, it can help speed up the insurance claims process.
Eyewitness Accounts
If the accident had any witnesses, their statements could offer a neutral perspective on what happened. Request their contact information before they leave the scene.
Truck Driver Logs
Truckers must maintain logs of their work hours to ensure they comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s hours-of-service (HOS) requirements. Accessing these logs (or the truck’s electronic logging system) can help demonstrate HOS violations, potentially indicating that the trucker was driving while fatigued or breaking other trucking laws.
Trucking Company Records
Records from the truck driver’s employer may contain valuable evidence for proving fault in a California truck accident. These documents can be crucial if the accident occurred due to negligent hiring practices, lack of vehicle maintenance, or improper loading procedures.
Expert Witnesses and Accident Reconstruction
Expert witnesses such as medical specialists and accident reconstruction analysts can use their professional knowledge to offer a particularly effective form of California truck accident evidence. Their insights can help the insurance company or court understand who was at fault and why your injuries resulted from the truck accident.
Truck Accident Lawyers Serving Injured People in Sacramento
As you begin your healing journey after a truck accident in California, you shouldn’t be worrying about finding sufficient evidence to prove your claim. Let an experienced truck accident attorney from Demas Law Group do the heavy lifting for you.
Our legal team has successfully represented injured Californians for over 25 years. We know results matter, and we deliver. Past truck accident outcomes include $3 million for a bicyclist struck by a commercial truck and a $2.5 million jury verdict for two sisters who lost their parents due to a horrific tractor-trailer wreck in Tuolumne County. While past results cannot guarantee the same outcome for your claim, they demonstrate the skill and commitment that Demas Law Group brings to every truck accident case.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a truck accident attorney in Sacramento.
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