Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid being on the road with large trucks. Commercial trucks make up a significant part of the U.S. economy. Approximately 70 percent of all of the freight tonnage in the nation is moved by truck, resulting in more than nine billion tons of freight each year. With the number of trucking jobs increasing steadily each year, it will mean more commercial trucks on the roadways.

Being involved in an accident with a large truck is extremely different than an accident with a traditional passenger vehicle. For example, in the majority of situations, if you are involved in an accident with an 18-wheeler, the property damage and injuries you suffer are going to be much more severe.

Evidence Required in a Trucking Accident  

When you are involved in an accident with a traditional passenger vehicle, your lawyer is going to gather several types of information and evidence, including police reports, medical information, statements from witnesses, footage from security cameras, etc. However, if you are involved in an accident with a commercial truck, additional types of evidence must be gathered. Some of the evidence that will be necessary in these cases includes:

• Driver evidence: This will include the qualifications the driver has, the amount of time they spent training, inspection record, hours of service and drug and alcohol screening results.
• Vehicle evidence: This will include the trucks inspection history, information from the GPS tracking system, downloads from the on board system and maintenance documentation.
• Cargo evidence: This will include information such as weight tickets, bills of landing, dispatch instructions, delivery documents and trip envelopes.

Who is Labile in Trucking Accidents?

When you are involved in a car accident, the only people involved are typically the drivers of each vehicle, and in some case the owner or employer of the driver of the other vehicle. When a commercial truck accident occurs, there are often several more entities involved, which creates a more complex case.

In addition to the driver, other entities who may share in the liability include:

• The owner of the truck
• The actual trucking company
• The manufacturer of a part or component that caused the accident
• The person in charge of maintaining the truck

The list of the potential liable entities after a trucking accident can be quite complex.

An attorney who knows how to effectively navigate a trucking injury case can ensure the crucial evidence is collected and used appropriately. If you are involved in an accident with a commercial truck, call the experienced attorneys at the Law Offices of Brian Timothy Meyers today.