The sound of an 18-wheeler hitting your vehicle can change your life in seconds. After the crash, you may face serious injuries, shock and uncertainty about what comes next. On major South Texas routes such as I-37 and US-77, the size and weight of commercial trucks can make a collision especially severe.
You may also face another challenge after the crash. A trucking company may have insurers, claims staff and legal teams working to protect its interests. As a result, you may feel as if you are facing a harder legal challenge while still dealing with the effects of the collision.
Why can commercial truck crashes require more evidence?
A truck crash may involve more than the driver’s actions. Your legal team may need to review the driver’s hours, the company’s schedules and records from the truck itself.
Fatigue can play a role in some truck crashes. Truck drivers may travel long distances and work demanding schedules. Records may show how long a driver stayed on the road before a crash. Electronic logging devices may also provide information about driving time.
Other evidence may include:
- Truck data showing speed, braking and driving activity
- Dispatch records showing the driver’s work schedule
- Traffic or dashcam video showing lane movement or delayed braking
- Police reports and witness accounts describing what happened
Taken together, these records may help show what happened before the collision. They could also raise questions about the driver’s actions, work schedule or other factors that may have contributed to the crash.
How can Texas law affect your claim?
Texas law allows a court or jury to assign a percentage of responsibility to people who contributed to an injury. Depending on the facts, that may include you, the truck driver or other parties.
As a result, the details of your crash can become important when people dispute responsibility. A trucking company may question your actions, so evidence from the crash scene and truck records could help clarify what happened.
Why can a truck crash involve more than the collision?
A commercial truck crash may raise questions about more than how the vehicles collided. The driver’s conduct, the trucking company’s practices and the truck’s condition may all need review. For example, investigators may examine:
- Driver fatigue: Whether the driver’s hours on the road may have affected alertness or reaction time
- Driver training: Whether the driver had the training and experience needed to operate the truck safely
- Truck maintenance: Whether brake, tire or equipment problems may have contributed to the crash
- Company records: Whether schedules, dispatch records or other documents may show factors that contributed to the collision
These issues can matter because a commercial truck crash may involve several possible causes. Looking beyond the point of impact could help identify facts that a review of the crash scene alone may not reveal.
When the truck changes everything
A commercial truck crash can create serious physical, financial and emotional challenges. You may have little time or energy to sort through records while recovering. Legal counsel may also help you identify relevant evidence and assess the issues that could arise after a serious collision.