No matter the type of truck accident, an investigation will begin at the scene of the accident after the police arrive. If applicable, the truck driver will inform the company that owns the truck. Since truck companies can be large, multi-million (and even billion) dollar companies, they may have their team ready to come out to the scene to perform their own analysis and gather evidence for their defense.
Because truck accidents cause a great deal of damage, the truck company’s insurance investigation team will gather evidence on its behalf to defend itself in the event of a lawsuit. When millions of dollars of damage are at stake, it is understandable why they summon their own investigation team.
The police will come to the scene to prepare their report by interviewing witnesses and all parties involved, gathering evidence, analyzing the details, and helping coordinate any immediate medical help. If a victim of the accident has an attorney ready, they may also call them to come out to the scene.
Evidence analyzed during a truck accident will be more than just visible damage, like property damage and injuries. All investigative parties will likely ask to review many of the truck driver’s documents, such as the record of hours logged driving and resting, any receipts or tickets obtained during the trip, GPS information at the time of the accident, cell phone data, weigh-in information, and more.
Truck drivers are required to log and provide a lot of data to their employer regarding each trip they make. The plaintiff’s investigation party can use this to their advantage to prove the negligence and fault of the truck driver.