Semi truck accidents cause over 5,000 fatalities and hundreds of thousands of injuries every year. Knowing these dangers, federal regulators require trucking companies to maintain logs, inspect their vehicles, and retain certain records to avoid accidents and establish their responsibility when they occur. However, if you do not obtain this information shortly after a truck accident, it can be lost forever. This is why it’s essential to work with an experienced truck accident lawyer in San Antonio who can help identify the critical evidence that must be preserved in your case and take the steps necessary to protect your rights.
Driver Logs Can Help Prove the Cause of the Accident and Who Is Responsible for It
Truck accidents are much more complicated legal claims than car accident cases because they can occur due to factors unseen by unsuspecting motorists. Truck accidents can occur for many reasons, and driver logs and inspection records can sometimes help pinpoint the factors that contributed to them.
Truck drivers are required to maintain a detailed log to record the number of hours they have driven and their rest periods. These logs used to be written, but today they are kept electronically. An experienced truck accident lawyer can secure this log, which may help show the truck driver was fatigued, speeding, or otherwise violating rules that could have caused the crash.
Federal regulations require systematic inspection, repair, and maintenance of commercial trucks. Before every trip, an inspection must occur. An inspection is also required before the driver begins their day. Truck drivers must review inspection reports. If a part was identified for repair, the driver must ensure it was repaired before driving the vehicle.
Truck drivers are responsible for examining the truck’s physical condition and checking for any leaks before leaving. They should also check the area around the truck to ensure there are no hazards that could cause mechanical issues once they leave.
We Can Obtain Evidence to Help Prove Your Truck Accident Case
Our experienced San Antonio injury attorney can send a preservation letter to the trucking company that requests the trucking company preserve the following information:
- Driver’s logs and code driver’s logs
- Data from event data recorders, electronic control units, or black boxes
- The driver’s qualification file
- Incident reports regarding the driver
- Alcohol and drug testing results
- Satellite tracking information
- Communication records
- Maintenance records and inspection reports
- Annual inspection records
- Total trip receipts, bills of lading, and weight tickets
If the trucking company disposes of this evidence after receiving a preservation letter, the facts can be construed against them. The jury can interpret the facts that the trucking company deliberately destroyed the evidence because it would have been used against them.
Contact Us for a Free Case Review Today
Time is of the essence after a truck accident. Valuable evidence can be lost or destroyed if it is not properly identified and preserved. The accident attorneys at George Salinas Injury Lawyers in San Antonio can take the steps necessary to preserve valuable evidence. Contact us today for a free consultation.