Getting into an accident with a commercial vehicle or large truck can be significantly more challenging than getting into an accident with a personal vehicle. The weight of the trucks often makes damage more severe, and even minor accidents can result in serious life-long health challenges. You may be able to hold the driver accountable for their actions with the help of a Chicago truck accident lawyer. However, for your case to be successful, you’ll need to preserve evidence from the accident.
Types of Evidence to Preserve
All accidents are different, but they typically produce the same types of evidence that you’ll want to be able to present in court if you file a lawsuit. This includes the following types of evidence.
Photographs and Videos
You should be capturing everything you can at the scene of the accident. This means taking pictures of the following:
- Damage done to all vehicles involved
- The position of the vehicles after the collision
- Road conditions that contributed to the accident
- Traffic signs
- Skid marks
- Visible injuries you or other drivers and passengers suffered
- Debris
- Personal belongings
The more thoroughly you can photograph the scene, the easier it will be for your attorney to put the pieces together for the court.
Witness Information and Statements
If anyone witnessed the accident, they could provide statements to you and law enforcement to document what they saw. If you recorded those statements on your phone, make sure to preserve those recordings. Consider backing them up on a computer or adding copies to an external hard drive. You can also ask the police to furnish copies of the statements they collect if you go to court.
Medical Records
Medical records help show the severity of the injuries you suffered as a result of the accident. Take care to keep any medical records resulting from the accident on hand until your case is settled. If you don’t have copies of your medical records, you may need to request copies from the hospital or doctor treating you. These copies can often be emailed to you, but you may also request physical copies (often for a small fee).
Truck-Specific Information
You’ll also need to collect and preserve information related to the truck that hit you, the truck driver behind the wheel at the time of the accident, and the trucking company who hired the driver. Your Chicago truck accident attorney will help you compile the necessary evidence which should include the following:
- Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Data: Logs the driver’s hours and activities behind the wheel.
- Black Box Data: Records truck speed, braking patterns, and other critical information before and during the crash to provide details of what led to the accident.
- Inspection and Maintenance Records: Shows whether the truck was properly maintained, which could explain the cause of the accident.
- Driver’s Safety Record: Includes past accidents or violations to establish a track record of behavior.
- Dispatch Records: Tracks communication between the driver and trucking company and can help prove potential OSHA violations and other hazardous behaviors.
- Hiring and Training Records: Demonstrates whether the driver was qualified for their role.
Truck accident cases are complex due to the volume of evidence involved and potential resistance from trucking companies. That’s why it’s so important that you work with an experienced truck accident attorney from the very beginning. They can navigate any potential roadblocks to help you hold the driver and the trucking company accountable.
Schedule a Consultation Today
If you’ve been in an accident with a truck or commercial vehicle, get the help you need immediately. Schedule a consultation with a Chicago truck accident lawyer and let them help you figure out the best next steps for your situation. Contact us today to learn more about your options.