You did everything you were supposed to do when it comes to driving in the vicinity of a large truck. Like always, you were as safe as possible when behind the wheel. Yet, due to circumstances out of your control, the driver of that truck caused an accident that caused you to suffer severe injuries. So now you want justice – how do you go about getting it?
Your best bet is to immediately hire a skilled truck accident attorney. Getting high-quality legal representation will be key to obtaining the compensation you deserve. An attorney will know how to gather the evidence needed in order for you to have the best possible chance of winning.
Sand Law has a team of attorneys who can do just that. We have years of experience helping truck accident victims obtain compensation, money they can use to help rebuild their lives. If you would like to learn more about how we may be able to help you, please contact us online or call 651-291-7263 for a free consultation.
The following are examples of ways your attorney will help make your case as strong as possible.
Accident Reconstruction
Truck accidents are far too common and lead to catastrophic results that change lives forever. One of the most effective methods of bolstering a victim’s case is accident reconstruction. As the name implies, it’s a way of basically piecing together all of the circumstances that caused the accident. This is a very useful tool, particularly so in cases where there are multiple negligent parties, or witnesses provide conflicting accounts of what happened.
An accident reconstruction expert will usually have a science or engineering background, although some are skilled in forensic investigations. Experts will typically visit the accident scene, talk to witnesses and perform calculations regarding the movements and speeds of the vehicles involved. They will also evaluate other factors as well, including weather conditions.
After reconstructing the accident, the expert will then present their findings – usually in a courtroom. However, your attorney may also include this information in a demand letter sent to the insurance company of the negligent party. This could help speed negotiations and spur a fair offer from the insurer.
Regular Witness Statements
If your accident occurred during a time of the day where there was a lot of other traffic on the road, there’s a pretty good chance many people saw what happened. Someone could have been looking out an office or store window of a nearby building. There are a lot of different ways there could be witnesses to your accident.
They might have seen something that led directly to the collision, and they could provide critical information that will strengthen your case. Hopefully, you were able to gather the names and contact information of people who witnessed the accident. If so, your attorney will interview these witnesses to find out exactly what they saw.
Expert Witness Statements
If you weren’t able to obtain witness contact information, either because you were too badly hurt or too upset to take action, that doesn’t mean you’ve damaged your case. It’s actually very understandable. Your attorney can still build a strong case on your behalf by calling in expert witnesses.
The accident reconstruction specialist mentioned earlier is one example of an expert witness. Another is a medical expert, one who can confirm how severe your injuries are and what kinds of effects they’ll have on your quality of life. Medical expert witnesses can also provide testimony regarding the cost of your treatments.
Picture and Video Evidence
This is probably the most powerful type of evidence accident victims can produce. Just about everyone has a smartphone, and there are also surveillance cameras practically everywhere. More than likely, your accident was caught on video.
Insurance companies are notorious for trying to find loopholes in order to keep from paying accident victims. When they’re presented with this kind of evidence, however, they will typically have no choice but to pay a fair settlement.
These are just some of the many types of cameras that can capture footage of a trucking accident.
Dash cameras
Most commercial trucking companies install cameras inside a truck’s cab, such as on the dashboard. These cameras, which are trained on the road in front of the truck, can often show evidence of dangerous driving habits on the part of the truck driver. These include reckless passing, tailgating, and more. Also, just like commercial airliners, commercial trucks usually have what’s known as a “black box”. This is a device that records what happens with the truck’s mechanical system. It can also show what a driver was doing at the time of an accident. It can, for instance, show if the truck was speeding, and when the driver engaged the brakes.
Personal cameras
If someone nearby saw the accident, they may have been using their smartphone camera at the time. Your attorney may be able to obtain this footage on your behalf. And they may also be able to get a statement from the owner.
Surveillance cameras
Just about any kind of business you can think of will have a surveillance camera positioned somewhere on the property. In many instances, these cameras will show traffic on a nearby road or highway. An attorney can ask the owner of the business to release that footage. If necessary, they can get a subpoena to force that release.
How Hiring an Attorney Can Help Your Truck Accident Claim
As you can see, attorneys have a lot of tools at their disposal when it comes to gathering the evidence needed to prove that a negligent party is liable for a trucking accident that leads to severe injuries. At Sand Law, our attorneys have the tenacity it takes to make sure you have the proof required in order to win your case.
If you would like to schedule a free case review, please use our online form or give us a call at 651-291-7263.