Important evidence in a Houston truck accident case

 The statute of limitations for most personal injury cases in Texas is two years from the date of the incident. Therefore, you should consult an experienced Houston auto accident attorney immediately after an accident caused by a commercial truck. Your attorney can help you secure important evidence like:

Truck's electronic data

Many commercial trucks have electronic control modules or event data recorders (also called "black boxes"). These devices record information about the truck like its speed, braking, engine performance, seat belt usage and more. This evidence can be used to confirm or challenge claims made by the driver, trucking company, insurance company or witnesses.

Hours-of-service evidence

Federal Hours of Service rules limit the amount of time a commercial driver can spend driving and mandate mandatory rest stops. Driver logs, electronic logs, dispatch records, GPS records, fuel receipts, toll tickets and delivery paperwork are all types of evidence that can prove that a driver had been on the road for too long. These records can also prove that the trucking company pushed an unsafe schedule on the driver or ignored federal safety laws.

Crash scene video

Video evidence can be some of the most valuable evidence in a truck accident lawsuit. This type of evidence can include footage from dashcams, traffic cameras, neighboring business surveillance cameras, residential cameras and video recorded by nearby vehicles.

Maintenance and safety records

Under federal regulations, trucking companies must regularly inspect and repair their trucks. These maintenance records might be able to prove that the accident was caused by brake, tire, steering, lighting or trailer defects or by unresolved issues from a prior inspection.

The trucking company's safety records can be important as well. These records can prove that the company failed to properly train its drivers, monitor safety violations, enforce Hours of Service rules, verify driver qualifications, investigate previous accidents or remove unsafe trucks from service.

Let an attorney protect the evidence

A Texas 18-wheeler truck accident attorney can take steps to preserve evidence while it still exists. For example, they can send preservation letters to the trucking company, insurance company, driver or any other party involved in the case.

This can involve:

  • Obtaining video evidence
  • Requesting company records
  • Inspecting the 18-wheeler itself
  • Reviewing electronic data
  • Securing police reports
  • Interviewing witnesses
  • Consulting with accident reconstruction or trucking safety experts

Talk to a Houston auto accident attorney today

If you were injured in a commercial truck accident, the evidence you need to support your personal injury case may not be available forever. Chelsie King Garza, P.C., can investigate the accident and gather necessary evidence to present the strongest case possible on your behalf.

Contact Chelsie King Garza, P.C. today for a free consultation with a Houston auto accident attorney about your truck accident claim.

 

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