After a serious tractor-trailer accident, it’s important to preserve any physical evidence from the accident as soon as possible in order to help prove your claim. The North Carolina truck accident lawyers at Henson Fuerst are experienced in truck accident investigation, and have the resources and knowledge needed to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Gathering Accident Data
To help support your claim in a serious injury wreck, our North Carolina truck accident lawyers will use the following investigation methods to determine the cause of the crash:
- Acquire copies of medical records and consult your doctor about the details of your injury.
- Obtain an official accident report from the police officials.
- Send preservation of evidence letters to keep evidence from being destroyed.
- Obtain black box data.
- Reconstruct the accident details.
Determining the Cause
Truck accidents can occur for numerous reasons. Our North Carolina 18-wheeler accident attorneys investigate all factors that might have contributed to the crash in order to determine the cause of the accident, such as:
- Driver fatigue
- Driver visibility
- Driver perception and reaction times
- Driving past hour limitations
- Drug or alcohol use
- Faulty load placement
- Improper loading of the trailer
- Post-accident drug and alcohol testing
- Vehicle repair and maintenance issues
If you want an experienced truck accident investigation team on your side, contact Henson Fuerst today. We can help determine what caused the accident and help you get the compensation you need for your injuries.
Accident Reconstruction Engineers
To help with the process of investigating a truck accident, the North Carolina 18-wheeler accident attorneys from Henson Fuerst often utilize accident reconstruction engineers. These engineers are independent and unbiased professionals with specific training in analyzing the factors leading up to a truck accident. They examine:
- black box data,
- crash damage,
- roadway conditions,
- skid marks,
- witness testimonies,
- vehicle debris,
- and more.
In court, our North Carolina truck accident attorneys can use the information accident reconstruction engineers uncover as an expert testimony. Often, this testimony can be helpful in the overall outcome of your claim.
Black Box Recording Device
A black box is an internal recording device used in commercial motor vehicles that tracks speed and engine performance information. Most newer commercial trucks and some passenger automobiles have black box recording devices.
Black boxes record information, such as:
- deceleration rate,
- forces of acceleration or deceleration,
- impact speed,
- time before impact,
- wheel performance data,
- and airbag deployment.
If black box devices are still intact after a collision, the our attorneys can use this crucial accident data to help prove your case.
We also utilize accident reconstruction engineers to recreate and explain what happened in the moments leading up to your accident. This information can be crucial to winning your case and getting the compensation you need.
Time-Sensitive Evidence
After an accident, black box recording devices are sometimes destroyed—either accidentally or intentionally—by mechanics or the at-fault party. It is important that a North Carolina truck accident attorney obtain key evidence from a black box recording device while the information is still intact.
Property Damage Help
In vehicle accidents, property damage usually refers to damage done to the automobile or truck. In most cases, property damage is covered by the insurance of the responsible party, which is designed to pay for vehicle repairs or replacement costs.
Property Damage Statute of Limitations
The insurance company of the at-fault party will need to be notified of the property damage claim as soon as possible. In the state of North Carolina, there is a statute of limitations—or deadline—for submitting property damage claims. You must submit your claim within three years of the date of the accident in order for the claim to be eligible.
If you’ve been injured in a crash involving a tractor-trailer that was not your fault, our experienced accident reconstruction engineers can investigate the details surrounding your accident at no cost to you. Our legal team will work hard to get you the compensation you need for your injuries.
