Compared to car accidents, commercial semi-truck crashes often involve complicated factors and require extensive investigations to determine who or what was to blame. For the trucking company, the stakes are high when a large, expensive vehicle transporting goods worth thousands of dollars is involved in a devastating traffic accident.

Depending on the accident’s severity, the financial cost to the trucking company could be devastating. The trucking firm springs into action once an incident occurs to determine what went wrong.

Unlike auto insurance companies, trucking firms typically have more resources for the investigation and a lower accident volume to assess. Read on to learn more about handling Atlanta truck accidents.

What Agency Looks Into Truck Crashes?

Police and other investigators typically gather at the scene of a truck collision to begin their work. Investigation teams often include insurance company officials, legal counsel, and trucking company personnel like the safety director or even the CEO in the case of a smaller operation.

The team is more likely to include accident experts, lawyers, and witness interviews if a major, sophisticated corporation owns the truck and the accident is severe.

If you were involved in a truck accident, it is crucial to contact a lawyer as soon as possible. Working with Atlanta truck accident attorneys will increase your chances of recovery. Also, they will protect your best interest.

When Should an Investigation Be Conducted Into a Truck Crash?

The truck driver is obligated to report the collision to the company immediately. Their company and its insurance company will send a team to the scene shortly afterward.

Evidence, including the truck’s black box recording, mobile phone records, and data from any other onboard technology, will be gathered at the scene and analyzed as soon as possible following the accident.

As time passes, some forms of evidence may be rendered inadmissible. Thus investigators must gather as much data as possible as quickly as possible following the accident.

Tracing the Cause of a Truck Crash

Every trucking company must keep a driver qualification file (DFQ) on all drivers per the rules set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Attorneys specializing in truck accidents frequently use this data as a foundational component of their investigations into truck accidents. The following are required parts of any DQF:

• History of driving, including any collisions in which the driver or truck was involved
• Background information on the driver’s employment
• Result of a Road Test
• The outcomes of alcohol and drug tests
• Time logs of volunteer work
• Prove your training with these certifications
• Logs of vehicle servicing
• Authenticated license copies
• Assessment reports
• The existence of valid medical credentials
• Formalized employment requests
• Dossiers about employees

A DQF might be obtained for your case by a truck accident attorney who is well-versed in such matters. Most trucking businesses are hesitant to release DFQ files, especially if such files contain information that could cause legal trouble for the company or the driver.

The document may need to be released by a subpoena obtained by the attorney. Also, a truck accident lawyer will check to ensure their client is fully licensed to operate a commercial vehicle.

Frequent Roots of Truck Driver Negligence

Human error remains the leading cause of truck accidents. The size and weight of the vehicle make it harder to maneuver, especially when faced with adverse road and weather conditions.

Fatigue

Hours of sleep and service time are limited for truck drivers. However, they may drive for longer than is safe due to the stress of meeting deadlines or an error in judgment.

Toxic Substances and Alcoholic Beverages

Driving a truck when impaired by alcohol or drugs (prescription or otherwise) is extremely dangerous and can have fatal results.

Speeding

Trucks are harder to handle than automobiles, especially while traveling at high speeds, due to the differences in how they accelerate, brake, and turn. Because of this, truck drivers who speed are being reckless at best.

Get Legal Assistance

Accidents involving trucks require legal representation from trucking accident attorneys. Allow an attorney to fight on your behalf. Atlanta truck accident attorneys specialize in transportation accidents and are familiar with the legal process of dealing with trucking companies.

About the author:

With a law degree under his belt, Mark Scott understood very early that law communication was a relatively neglected area. He decided to help people by “translating” the language and offering information and advice in a clear, useful, and actionable manner. For this reason, instead of finding him in court, you will most likely find his name online, where he is very active and thriving as a legal columnist. His part of making the world a better place is to make the law a less convoluted maze. He aims to make it easier for people to understand when and how to seek legal counsel, how to proceed in a significant number of legal matters, and to find the proper resources so they can stand up for their rights.