What are the important pieces of evidence in a truck accident case?

(Los Angeles, CA) – April 26^th, 2016 – For the most part, California trucking companies must adhere to federal and state trucking laws. In the event of an accident it is the victim’s responsibility to find out if all the laws have been complied with the help of a legal professional.

According to Los Angeles, CA truck accident lawyers there are many companies who do not take their legal obligations seriously because they simply want to cut down on expenses and meet deadlines. If a trucking company flouts the laws they can be held liable to pay compensation following an accident claim or personal injury lawsuit.

Legal Requirements for Commercial Drivers

In addition, there are specific legal requirements for drivers who operate commercial vehicles. First, they must have a valid and appropriate commercial driving license.

The license is only provided to drivers who have successfully completed specialized training on safety and has been cleared after background checks intended to discover whether the driver was involved in any criminal activity, traffic violations, or accidents. In a truck accident claim the task of the victim’s California truck accident attorney is to investigate if the driver was properly trained to handle the vehicle. 

Until trucks drive themselves, there will be truck accidents so there will be a strong need for Los Angeles truck accident lawyers. 

Rules Concerning Equipment

The equipment and the vehicle must be regularly inspected and maintained according to trucking rules. The inspection logs must be recorded and preserved meticulously. Moreover there are certain rules of loading cargo and securing merchandize. Loading logs must be preserved for inspection. Los Angeles truck accident lawyers acclaim that these logs provide vital evidence of whether the loading company had followed the loading rules or not. 

The Potential Pieces of Evidence against Semi-drivers

• The driver’s training record
• Inspection records
• Qualification file
• Hours of driving logs
• Post-crash drug and alcohol test records

Evidences Involving the Vehicle

• Data from mounted communications systems such as GPS and so on
• Data from the inbuilt computer that shows engine and brake functions
• Maintenance and repair logs
• Inspection logs

Records always matter. Just watch the show Super Repo Men on Discovery Channel. They cannot receive the full value of the stolen airplane unless they have the plane’s books. These records are vital. It is not different in a truck accident. All these aforementioned records will be scrutinized after a truck accident.

Evidence Involving the Cargo

• Weight tickets
• Bills of lading
• Delivery documents
• Dispatch instructions
• Trip Envelopes

How are documents retrieved from the trucking firms?

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations mandate that the above mentioned documents must be preserved for a specific period of time. Logbooks are usually kept for 6 months. The victim’s legal representative can demand all the documents pertaining to the driver, cargo, and equipment through a spoliation letter. However, if the victim has not retained a legal counselor immediately after an accident, then vital evidence can be lost because log books are destroyed periodically.

Sometimes even truck drivers get distracted. 

If you watch the show Super Repo Men, sometimes the records cannot be found when you need them the most.

If you have been injured in an accident involving a commercial vehicle, it would be prudent to engage a formidable California truck accident lawyer promptly. The sooner you seek legal counsel the easier it is for your legal pro to gather evidence to substantiate your accident claim.

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