Truck Accident Investigations

The semi-truck accident lawyer that Georgia trusts can tell you that trucking accidents are different. A commercial truck weighs upwards of 10,000 pounds, which means extensive vehicle damage and serious bodily injuries are more likely. In addition to the truck driver, the trucking company or truck manufacturer may bear some of the blame for the accident. The attorneys at Butler Kahn know how to conduct a thorough investigation, secure expert witnesses, depose the right people and prevent trucking companies from destroying valuable evidence. We know because we’ve done it.

Georgia Truck Accident Investigation

After a truck driver collides with another vehicle, the first thing the truck driver is trained to do is call his company. Responsible companies then investigate the collision to determine whether its driver could have “prevented” the wreck. In reality, many truck companies call their team of defense lawyers who start working on ways to avoid responsibility. That is why it is so important you consult with a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible.  When we get hired we want to look for as much evidence as we can. Depending on how soon our firm gets hired, we often begin by sending a spoliation letter to the trucking company and the trucking company’s registered agent. Then we follow up by acquiring evidence of the truck company’s internal investigation and whether the collision was “preventable.”

Once we’ve gathered enough written evidence, we’ll start preparing the semi-truck accident case for trial. We cross-examine the truck company’s executives, usually including the company’s “Safety Director,” by taking their depositions. We’ll prepare medical evidence to be used at trial, including medical illustrations and video depositions of your doctors that we can play for the jury. We find witnesses who can testify in front of the jury. We prepare our opening statements and closing arguments.

What we do is no secret. Truck companies, insurance companies, and their lawyers know that if the case has to go all the way to trial, our firm will be ready—so they usually settle with our clients. If they don’t, we’re ready for court. For example, after extensive investigation and case preparation, we were able to settle a fatal truck crash claim for the $2 million policy limits long before trial.

Preservation of Evidence

Trucking companies often remove parts from damaged trucks and use those parts in other vehicles. Removing the electronic control module after an accident can erase valuable crash data, which is why we warn the trucking company not to destroy evidence. Any semi-truck accident lawyer in Georgia relies upon understanding the importance of preservation-of-evidence, or “spoliation,” letters. We act fast. We write to the truck companies and demand that they preserve all evidence. This spoliation letter notifies the trucking company of its obligation to preserve accident-related evidence, and we send it as quickly as we can. If a trucking company ignores this letter, we may be able to prove that they destroyed evidence intentionally, which can strengthen your case.

We may retain an accident reconstruction expert to determine how the wreck occurred. A reconstructionist’s investigation often begins with visiting the scene of the wreck to examine skid marks, look for debris, and take measurements with electronic surveying equipment. It’s all part of building the case.

Reconstructionists often inspect the vehicles involved in the accident, including the truck. It may take hours to inspect the truck’s brakes, suspension, steering, lights, carriage, GPS system, and tires.