A truck accident in Indiana is often more devastating than a car accident because commercial trucks are so much bigger and heavier than passenger vehicles. Often, it’s the driver and passengers in the car who are either seriously injured or killed.
Document the accident
If you are involved in an accident with a commercial truck and sustain injuries, there are some important things you can do to document the incident. If you take these steps, you will increase your odds of receiving compensation for your medical costs, lost wages or any other expenses related to the accident.
Types of evidence
There are certain types of evidence that individuals present in court to prove that a shipper, broker, trucking company or other party acted in a negligent fashion and contributed to the factors that caused the accident. These pieces of evidence may include:
- Police accident reports
- Certified truck inspector report
- Witness statements
- Photos
- Alcohol or drug test results
- Electronic driver logs
How to request evidence
There is some evidence that you can request or obtain for yourself, such as photos, witness statements and police reports. However, you may need help to obtain some of the other kinds of evidence listed above, like drug and alcohol test results or drivers’ electronic logs.
An attorney who has experience with handling motor vehicle accidents could draft a spoliation letter and send it to the appropriate parties. The injured party, or his or her attorney, sends this document to request that all accident-related evidence be saved Some of this evidence may include a trucker’s driving record and dispatch instructions. In general, the faster you act following an accident, the better your chances are of recovering damages for your losses.
