When a commercial trucker reports that they have been in a traffic collision, a great deal of eyes are immediately drawn to the scene. What you might not realize is that all of those interested parties might not be looking out for you, the person who was hit by the tractor trailer. Instead, the parent company of the truck will typically dispatch a team of truck accident investigators to go find evidence that proves they aren’t liable, and that you are.
What Happens During a Truck Accident Investigation?
If you stick around the scene of a truck accident long enough, you will probably eventually see a group of attorneys, insurance adjusters, or a mix of both. They are working for the trucking company to one extent or another. Putting their skills to work, they leave no stone unturned to see if the accident can be blamed on anyone other than their trucker, mechanics, managers, etc.
During a typical truck accident investigation, adjusters or lawyers will:
- Take photographs: You’ve probably heard that a picture is worth a thousand words, but in a truck accident case, they could be worth a few thousand dollars. Investigators will photograph the damage and injuries as extensively as possible, knowing that they could make the difference that saves their employer a fortune in restitution payments.
- Interview witnesses: Depending on the gravity of a truck accident, there are sure to be a varying number of people who saw it and stick around to help. Witness interviews will include these good Samaritans as well as emergency medical responders and police officers.
- Check reports: Weather reports are a powerful tool for truck accident investigators, who may be able to escape some liability if it can show that an unforeseen storm or gale worsened road conditions. Cellphone reports can also reveal if the driver that was hit by the trucker was distracted behind the wheel or not.
- Inspect the truck: Upon arriving at the truck accident scene, an investigator will conduct a basic inspection of the truck itself. Afterwards, a facility will conduct a more thorough inspection to send to the investigating team.
How to Keep the Scales Balanced
You might be thinking that trucking companies have an advantage by being able to send out teams of investigators, and you would be right. But you can easily rebalance the situation and gain an advantage of your own by doing their jobs yourself. Get pictures, talk to people, check records, and so on. And if you can’t, perhaps due to your injuries, find an attorney who will.
If you need assistance with a claim in Oklahoma, you can contact the Law Offices of Keith J. Nedwick, P.C. and our Norman truck accident lawyers. We have more than 50 years of collective legal experience and make ourselves available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergency cases.