7 Things About Truck Accident Attorneys You'll Kick Yourself For Not Knowing Truck Accident Litigation

There are a myriad of potential plaintiffs in litigation over truck accidents. apple valley truck accident lawyer could include the driver of the truck and their employer, as well as a company that manufactured defective equipment, or an individual contractor who loaded cargo incorrectly.

Many trucks are equipped with event data recorders, also known as black boxes, that can help investigators determine how the crash took place. Personal injury lawyers with years of experience will be able to match the log book information with the accident.

Investigation of the Scene

If a car accident happens the first step in an investigation is usually to collect evidence physically and take photographs. However, in the case of truck accidents there are a variety of things to think about. For instance, trucks are often transporting dangerous items, and even a relatively minor crash can result in severe or fatal injuries.

Because of this, the investigation process is more complicated than a typical car accident. It takes more time and requires the help of experts from different fields. A lawyer with experience can help you find the right professionals to handle this job.

Interviewing eyewitnesses is an essential element of a thorough truck accident investigation. Experts are also required to reconstruct the accident from the physical evidence. This information is vital in the case of a defendant being held accountable for the incident.

A lawyer should also ask the trucking company and driver for any information they believe to be relevant to the case. This could include information on the safety guidelines of the trucking company or training procedures, as well as maintenance protocols. Additionally, the past of the truck driver is vital for any past incidents, reprimands or results of a drug/alcohol test.

The data gathered from the black box in the truck is an additional piece of evidence that needs to be gathered. These devices, similar to those found in planes, may provide many details about the accident. The information you require should be sought immediately by your lawyer, as it could fade away over time due to the elements or passing traffic.

Finally, an attorney should also collect medical records from the victims of the crash. These records will prove that the injuries suffered in the crash have caused substantial and lasting damage. It is essential to keep these documents together with any doctor's notes and treatment schedules.

Expert Witnesses

The majority of truck accidents are settled between the insurance company, the injured party and the trucking company. However, there are some that don't and have to be taken to the court. Expert witnesses play a crucial role. They are professionals who have the knowledge and training required to analyze the facts in your case and offer their opinion to jurors. They can explain complicated medical concepts, mechanical concepts, and economic concepts to jurors who have little or no understanding of them.

Depending on the kind of expert witness needed, they could be as straightforward as a mechanic who will determine the reason your vehicle was damaged during the crash and metallurgists who conduct a failure analysis of an individual truck component or pathologists who determine the causes of death. They might also be required to examine and testify about specific aspects of your case like the impact of the crash as well as the velocity of the vehicle or reconstruction of the accident.

Another area in which experts are brought in is to help medical experts determine the severity of your injuries. Insurance companies frequently contest this claim, claiming that you exaggerate your injuries, or that these were pre-existing conditions and that the accident did not cause any additional harm. In these instances your lawyer will call in an independent medical expert to contest the doctor's testimony for insurance companies.

A witness who is an expert in the field can be useful in proving that a trucker was negligent. They will use their knowledge to help the jury comprehend the truck driver's failure to perform their duties as well as the financial implications which resulted from this failure and how the failure affected you.

GPS Tracking

It is not uncommon to see victims of truck accidents suffer serious injuries. They deserve financial assistance to deal with medical bills, lost wages, suffering and related costs. Cellino Law, a Manhattan truck accident lawyer firm is prepared to fight for justice and compensation for their clients.

GPS tracking is one of the most effective methods used in the event of an accident. These devices are employed by the trucking industry and they often contain a wide array of data that help determine the the liability of the driver. A Qualcomm system, for example can provide vital information about speed brake engine performance, and service hours. This information can be combined with other evidence, such as eyewitness testimonies, to reconstruct the scene of an accident.

Dash cams and telematics data could also prove useful in the event of a truck accident. Telematics is the process of collecting data gathered by the vehicle's onboard computer. This data is used to instruct fleet drivers and record incidents. This data could include speed, harsh braking, and phone usage. It can be compared to the log books of truck drivers to determine if they had accurate data was recorded.

Another important piece of evidence is any fax messages that were transmitted regarding the journey prior to the accident. This could include information on the travel route and its destination, any stops during the journey, and even the details of any communications between the truck driver and the company. This information can be used by a seasoned personal injury lawyer to prove that the truck driver was distracted or not following safe procedures.

When a truck accident victim can prove that the trucking company, truck driver, or any other defendants failed to adhere to their duty of care and caused the collision they must be held accountable for any injuries that may have occurred as a result. Plaintiffs must prove that defendants violated a statute or regulation, and that the violation caused harm. It is much simpler to prove that a violation of an traffic law was negligent however, Federal regulations require a more intricate analysis.

Negotiating a Settlement

In many instances, truck accident victims can settle their claims without having to go to court. The process of reaching settlement is to discuss the facts of your case with an insurance company including the amount you are entitled to under state law. A lawyer who is involved in a truck accident can evaluate your injuries, and document the damages you suffered due to them, in order to determine the worth of your case. The attorney can then apply the results of other similar truck accident lawsuits and how juries awarded victims in similar situations to calculate an appropriate settlement amount.

Your lawyer may also be able to negotiate directly with the insurance company in order to ensure that the settlement you receive adequately covers the damages which are documented. This includes any money you've lost due to your inability to work to seek treatment for your injury. The lawyer can assist in submitting documentation for the losses you suffered, including old pay receipts. If your injuries prevent you from returning to the same job, you may also be entitled to compensation.

Insurance companies usually begin the conversation by making an offer that is low. This is a tactic used to test how desperate you are for a settlement and could impact the value of your case. A knowledgeable attorney can avoid being low-balled by remaining at peace and not giving in to pressure to accept a poor settlement.


Once your lawyer has agreed to an acceptable settlement amount, they'll send a settlement demand in writing to the party at fault, which must be answered within 30 days or your right to sue the responsible party in court will be forfeited. In some instances a trucking company will refuse to negotiate and your lawyer will start a lawsuit against the negligent party.

It is not possible to give an estimate of the value of a truck accident settlement because each situation is unique. For instance the severity of injuries and the time you'll miss work to receive medical treatment are two factors which can be different. Settlements for truck accidents can range from millions of dollars.