Move quickly to preserve evidence after a truck collision
Due to their size and speed, any motor vehicle collision involving a large truck often results in severe damage to the smaller vehicles on the road. Whether it is against cars, SUVs, pickup trucks or motorcycles, an 18-wheeler will likely cause devastating property damage and catastrophic injuries. Whenever possible, however, it is crucial that vehicle occupants act quickly to preserve evidence as the trucking company will often move fast to close the case.
After a motor vehicle collision, the trucking company and their team of adjusters will often move quickly to investigate the crash and take steps to protect their driver and the organization as a whole. While this practice is not illegal, it is wise for the other involved individuals to take their own steps to preserve evidence and strengthen their own case. Collision evidence can include:
- Pictures from the scene of the crash which include vehicle damage and injuries
- Witness statements and their contact information
- The police report filled out after the accident
- Medical reports from your physician and any medical experts
- Any data collected regarding the other drivers including contact information and insurance information
- Ancillary data such as weather conditions, traffic patterns and road damage
Vehicle occupants can accomplish most of these actions with little more than their camera-enabled cell phone. It is wise to record this data as memories, even of traumatic events, can quickly fade. With a camera record in hand, it can solidify answers to both law enforcement and insurance carriers. The trucking company will move quickly to collect their own data and it is crucial that the injured parties do the same to protect their own claims.
Numerous factors such as the types of vehicles involved and the speeds at which they were traveling can dramatically impact the force of a collision. Vehicle occupants could suffer multiple fractures, head trauma, spinal cord damage, amputation or paralysis. Unfortunately, serious collisions with 18-wheelers often prove fatal for occupants of smaller vehicles.
