The Importance of Preserving Evidence in Truck Accident Cases

If you want to fight for compensation after a truck accident, evidence is king. Insurance companies are in no rush to pay out settlements, and that’s even more true when you’re talking about a truck accident. In a truck accident claim, there could be millions of dollars at stake—so you can expect the insurance company to dig their heels in when it comes to paying up what they owe.

What can you do to strengthen your claim and put some pressure on the insurance company? A big part of it is getting and preserving the right evidence. We can help you with that, as well as every other part of your truck collision claim. Call Bailey Javins & Carter at 678-981-5370 to schedule a free consultation right away.

Key Types of Evidence

You only have a limited amount of time to collect much of the evidence created by a truck accident. As soon as possible after a crash, you should look at the evidence you have, look at what you need, and do what you can to bridge that gap. Some of the most valuable types of evidence in a truck accident claim include:

• Vehicle evidence: Looking at the state of both vehicles after a collision can give you some insight as to what happened and where things went wrong. That’s why it’s so important to take pictures and video footage after a collision. Photos should be from a variety of distances and angles.
• Physical debris and cargo: Truck accidents create an enormous amount of debris, especially if cargo falls onto the road. The location, size, and amount of debris can provide information about the force and angle of the crash, so make sure to take photos of that as well.
• Injuries: Documenting your injuries is key in a personal injury claim, and it starts at the scene of the crash. Photos, medical records, and records of your pain levels can all be useful when it comes to determining compensation.
• Electronic data: Trucks are required to have electronic logging devices, thanks to regulations from the FMCSA. ELDs collect a range of data, although the specific data available for each truck depends on which device the company chooses. However, this logging device can give information about what happened immediately prior to the crash, how fast the driver was going, how long the truck had been running, and when the driver’s last break was.

How to Preserve Evidence

Protecting evidence is important, especially since complicated claims can take months to sort out. Once you’ve documented the scene of the crash, do everything you can to make sure that your documentation does not go missing. Create physical and cloud-based backups of your photos and video footage. After you hire an attorney, send them copies as well—they’ll have their own backup methods that are likely even safer.

Electronic data can easily be overwritten or erased if not immediately backed up. This is one of the benefits of having an attorney; your lawyer can gain access to the truck’s electronic logging devices and do what they need to preserve the data.

Police records, medical bills, and medical records are important to your case. As soon as you get any paperwork related to your personal injury claim, you should immediately make a hard copy, make a digital copy, and file it away safely. Again, this is another reason to work with a truck accident lawyer in Atlanta. They’ll know how to get copies of these reports and how best to preserve them to avoid fading or other issues.

Evidence degradation is a very real issue in personal injury claims. By working with a personal injury lawyer, you can rest easy knowing that you are doing what you can to fight for compensation.

Reach Out to Bailey Javins & Carter Today

Are you ready to start your truck accident claim? It’s time to talk to Bailey Javins & Carter. Our client-focused approach puts your best interests first and helps you fight for what matters most. Set up your free initial consultation right away to find out how we can help you. Just reach out online or call us at 678-981-5370.