Don't Lose Important Evidence Found At The Scene Of A Truck Accident
Posted on: 20 December 2021
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With all accidents, you will need to make sure that someone rushes to the scene of the accident to make sure that you preserve any lost evidence. However, this is especially true with truck accident cases because you will have to deal with a commercial truck company that has its own interests first and foremost.
How a Truck Accident Attorney Can Preserve Evidence
An attorney can file a motion to preserve evidence. Then, the courts can mandate that the truck company preserve evidence that could be used in your truck accident case. For example, you will need to stop the truck company from erasing data found on the black box found inside the commercial truck that will store information related to the accident.
Your legal team will likely include not only a truck accident lawyer but will also include various expert witnesses who can assist the lawyer in finding out what happened after the accident.
Car Accident Physics
After the accident, evidence will be left all over the scene of the accident. This can include:
- Skid marks
- Debris left behind on the road
- Damage to the road
- Damaged vehicles
Fortunately, a forensic investigator can look at the evidence left behind at the scene of the accident and can apply collision physics to determine what happened. They can determine this by measuring:
- The total mass of the cars
- The distance in which they slid
- Drag force
With this, the investigator will be able to determine the total momentum. When both cars were moving, it can be difficult to determine the momentum of both cars, but it still gives the forensic investigator a good place to start.
Useful Evidence
The evidence should be preserved through photographs. If you are able to do so, take as many pictures as you can immediately after the accident. For example, skid marks can be used to determine drag force. Even if you do not believe that it is important, you should take a photograph anyway.
The Importance of Establishing Liability
To be able to file a successful claim against a truck accident company, you must establish liability. In other words, you must prove that the truck driver had a duty of care, that they breached this duty, and that you suffered damages as a result.
Once you are able to establish liability, your lawyer may be able to negotiate a settlement based on the damages you have suffered.