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Important Evidence for a Truck Accident Claim in Colorado

January 30, 2020Truck Accidents

Picture of truck in ditch

Investigating a truck accident is critical to collecting the money you need to put your life back together again. To do this, your Lakewood truck accident attorney must prove fault. Proving fault is often difficult without evidence of wrongdoing. Yet, collecting the evidence for a truck accident claim is nearly impossible to do on your own. Especially when you need to concentrate your efforts on recovering from your injuries.

At Dormer Harpring, our Denver truck accident lawyers can help you collect the evidence you need to win your truck accident claim. We have the resources and skills necessary to tackle even the most complex truck accident case. What type of evidence do you need for your truck accident claim?

Top 5 Important Evidence for Truck Accident Claims

Electronic Logging Device Records

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration enacted new trucking laws in 2017. These laws require all commercial trucks to have electronic logging devices (ELDs) to track driving time. This means paper logs are no longer accepted without exemptions.

ELDs log the number of hours a driver is behind the wheel. Federal law restricts the number of consecutive hours a truck driver can drive. Truck driver fatigue is a common cause of trucking accidents. Collecting these records can help your attorney see how many hours the truck driver drove. It can also help your lawyer determine if the truck driver or trucking company violated any federal rules or regulations.

Inspection Reports

Inspections are an important part of commercial truck safety. Missing an inspection or a failed inspection is a sign that the trucking company acted negligently in maintaining the safety of their vehicles. Inspection reports can shed light on how safe the truck was at the time of the accident.

Alcohol and Drug Testing Results

After a truck accident, police officials may perform an alcohol or drug test on the truck driver to determine if intoxication played a role in the crash. Your attorney will need to obtain copies of these results, as well as any other past failed drug tests.

Event Data Recorder Information

The majority of commercial trucks feature an Event Data Recorder. This device is similar to a black box found on airplanes. It logs information that is useful to your case, such as:

  • Average speed
  • Cruise control usage
  • Speed at the time of the accident
  • Hard braking
  • Sudden stops
  • Seatbelt usage
  • Airbag deployment

Obtaining the electronic data can help your truck accident attorney in Thornton build a case against the truck driver or trucking company for negligence.

Your Vehicle

Believe it or not, your vehicle is an important piece of evidence in your truck accident claim. Visible damage to your vehicle can prove who caused the crash. This is why it is important for your attorney to view the damage to your vehicle. Do not repair your vehicle without first speaking to your attorney.

Collecting Truck Accident Evidence Quickly

It is important to collect truck accident evidence quickly. In the weeks and months following the truck accident, valuable evidence can be lost or destroyed. To prevent the loss of evidence, your truck accident lawyer will need to send a spoliation of evidence letter to the trucking company.

This letter requests that the trucking company preserves all information and evidence that is critical to your case. If they fail to preserve this evidence, they could face serious sanctions and penalties. This is why it is important to contact a Lakewood truck accident attorney immediately after your accident.

Contact a Lakewood Truck Accident Attorney From Our Firm

If you or someone you love suffered an injury in a truck accident in Denver, Lakewood, Littleton or the surrounding areas, turn to us for help. At Dormer Harpring, our Denver truck accident lawyers have successfully represented injured clients after a devastating truck accident. We can help you get the money you need to pay for your medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering.

At Dormer Harpring, we work hard for our injured clients. Call us today at (303) 747-4404 or fill out our confidential contact form for more information. We can review all your legal options with you, so you can choose the one that is best for you and your situation. Call us today!