A truck accident investigation reviews the evidence from a truck wreck to determine liability and narrow down who is at fault. It does this by examining the following entities’ roles in a truck’s safe operational footprint and identifying negligence on the part of:
- The truck driver
- Trucking company
- Truck and parts manufacturers
- Cargo loading company
The Knoxville truck accident attorneys at Hotz & Associates, P.C. can comprehensively perform a truck accident investigation, collecting supporting documentation to preserve critical evidence. They use this material to determine who is responsible for your damages by examining complex details and establishing proof of negligence.
How do you investigate a truck accident?
A Knoxville truck accident attorney understands how to investigate a truck accident and why preserving evidence immediately following an accident is vital. This information includes:
- Evidence at the accident scene: This documentation should consist of pictures of the wreck’s scene, damage to any vehicles, and injuries. Video footage from traffic, dashboard, or security cameras can support your claim.
- Witness information and testimony: Witness testimony may come from individuals who saw the accident and expert witnesses possessing expertise in truck accident re-creation.
- Police report: Law enforcement will complete a detailed, extremely valuable report as supporting evidence.
- Black box data: A truck’s electronic logging device will provide critical information like a truck’s speed at the time of the accident, the number of hours on the road, braking pattern at the time of the wreck, engine malfunctions, and any movement of the truck following the accident.
- Trucking company records: These records cover maintenance logs, a trucking company’s safety records, and other data that reflects a company’s operational patterns.
- Examination of the truck: An examination may identify malfunctions in tires, braking systems, hydraulics, and other systems vital to a truck’s safe operation on the highway.
- Driver safety records: A trucking company is responsible for hiring drivers who operate safely on roadways. Securing a copy of the driver’s information may reveal a pattern of unsafe practices.
Does the FMCSA investigate truck accidents?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) aims to establish and execute safety policies while enforcing compliance. The FMCSA maintains a database with extensive information on drivers and carriers in the United States. They inspect trucks, document accidents, and may perform truck accident investigations to discover operational violations, such as:
- Hiring unsafe drivers
- Not meeting safety inspection and maintenance requirements
- Requiring drivers to operate past the hours allowed by law
- Violations of out-of-service or other operational rules
The FMCSA inputs this data and makes it available online. Failure to comply with these safety standards may result in fines, penalties, and even closure of a trucking company with habitual violations.
Who is allowed to investigate a commercial truck accident?
The following entities may complete truck accident investigations:
- State and local authorities, such as the police department or highway patrol
- FMCSA
- National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
- Knoxville truck accident lawyers
Your attorney’s focus in a truck accident investigation is to preserve evidence and compile data to establish who is negligent and successfully advocate for damages compensation.
Contact the Knoxville truck accident attorneys of Hotz & Associates, P.C.
Successful Knoxville truck accident investigations require the skills and professional access of an experienced attorney. Some evidence, such as black box data from the trucking company, may be impossible to acquire without the help of truck accident attorneys in Knoxville.
Hotz & Associates, P.C. understands the investigation process, seeks to preserve the supporting evidence, and works effectively to secure compensation for clients. Schedule a free consultation online or call (865) 582-0042.