If you’ve been injured in a trucking accident in California, you may be entitled to collect compensation for the damages caused by those injuries. Damages in a trucking accident can include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In order to obtain this compensation, you’ll have to file a personal injury claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
Proving Trucking Accident Claims
The insurance company isn’t going to pay your claim without some proof that their client was actually at fault for the accident. You’ll have to be able to show that:
- You were involved in an accident with a big truck;
- The accident was caused by negligence on the part of the driver or the owner of the truck;
- You were injured as a result of the accident; and
- You suffered damages as a result of these injuries.
Most people are inexperienced when it comes to pursuing a personal injury claim; many choose to hire an attorney to represent their interests and protect their rights. A personal injury attorney can help you in many ways after a trucking accident, such as investigating your trucking accident claim to collect the evidence you’ll need to support your claim.
Elements of a California Trucking Accident Investigation
Elements of an investigation to determine liability after a trucking accident include:
Collecting accident scene evidence
An important part of the investigative process is visiting the scene of the accident to collect evidence. Evidence can consist of taking videos and photos of the crash site to help determine how the accident occurred as well identifying and speaking with any eyewitnesses to the event. Any evidence you were able to collect immediately following the accident will also help the investigation.
Investigating the truck driver involved in the accident
Another important aspect of a big truck accident investigation is to review the truck driver’s personnel and public records to determine if the driver has a history of unsafe driving. Your attorney will also examine the police report to determine if the truck driver was impaired in any way at the time of the accident.
Investigating truck company records
If the truck was owned by a trucking company, useful evidence can be uncovered by going through the trucking company’s records. These can include personnel records about the driver involved in the accident as well as maintenance logs to determine the condition of the truck at the time of the accident.
Analyzing the truck’s data recorder
The truck’s black box data recorder can provide valuable information about the causes of the accident. Some of the data that can be retrieved from the black box includes the truck’s speed, when or if the brakes were applied, throttle position, acceleration/deceleration speed, trip length, and more.
Other elements of a California trucking accident investigation can include looking at cargo records, police accident reports, medical reports, the truck driver’s cell phone records, and consulting with accident reconstruction and medical experts.
Speak To Manhattan Beach Truck Accident Attorney Scott Dinsmore Today
Manhattan Beach trucking accident attorney Scott Dinsmore has been protecting the rights of clients throughout the South Bay area for more than 30 years. He possesses the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to fully investigate a trucking accident. Scott has recovered millions of dollars in compensation for his clients, including a $1,000,000+ settlement in a wrongful death trucking accident, and $1,000,000 (of $2,000,000 total) for aggravation of spasmodic torticollis in a trucking accident.
The sooner we begin investigating your Manhattan Beach trucking accident, the better your chances of obtaining the full compensation you deserve for your injuries. Contact the Law Offices of Scott Dinsmore, APC today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. We’ll review your case, answer any legal questions you may have, and provide professional advice on the best way to proceed with your claim.