If you were injured in a truck accident in Kansas City, you have the right to pursue legal action against the person or company that caused your accident. Truck accident cases are inherently complex, involving multiple parties, intricate regulations, and high-stakes liability.
Solid evidence serves as the foundation for establishing negligence, proving fault, and ultimately securing the compensation needed for recovery. Several critical pieces of evidence can strengthen your case and help you obtain a fair settlement. A Kansas City truck accident attorney can help you navigate a serious truck accident claim.
Black Box Data
Modern commercial trucks are equipped with electronic monitoring units, commonly known as black boxes. These devices record crucial data about the truck’s operation in the moments leading up to and during an accident. Black box data can reveal the truck’s speed, brake application, and even the driver’s hours of service, which can help you reconstruct the accident and establish fault.
Reports from Police
Police reports provide an official account of the accident scene, including initial observations, witness statements, and preliminary assessments of fault. These documents offer an important starting point for any investigation, often containing details that might otherwise be lost or forgotten in the chaos following the accident. Police reports can also include citations issued at the scene, which can help you prove that the driver violated traffic laws or safety regulations.
Surveillance Footage
Cameras are almost everywhere on the road. Footage from nearby businesses, traffic cameras, or even dashcams can provide irrefutable visual evidence of how an accident unfolded. When you obtain this video, you can help dispute conflicting accounts and establish the sequence of events leading to the collision.
Driver’s Logs
Federal regulations require truck drivers to maintain detailed logs of their driving hours, rest periods, and other activities. These logs can reveal if a driver was operating beyond legal time limits, which may indicate a fatigue-related accident. If there are discrepancies between official logs and other evidence, you may be able to prove that the trucking company falsified its records, which can strengthen your claim.
Maintenance and Inspection Records
Trucking companies are required to keep their vehicles in good condition, maintain their trucks regularly, and perform periodic inspections. Records of these activities can uncover negligence on the part of the trucking company or mechanics. If a mechanical failure contributed to the accident, these documents could help establish liability.
Medical Records
Truck accidents can lead to severe and life-altering injuries. Your medical records can help document the full extent of the damage that you suffered, as well as any treatment that you now require. With these records, you not only support your claim for current medical expenses but also establish your future medical needs and the accident’s impact on your quality of life.
Speak to a Kansas City Truck Accident Attorney Today
If you have been involved in a Kansas City truck accident, do not navigate the aftermath alone. A Kansas City personal injury attorney can help you gather, analyze, and present all available evidence so that you can present the strongest possible case for compensation. Your lawyer can also obtain crucial company records that might otherwise be difficult to access, such as internal maintenance logs or driver qualification files. Schedule a free legal consultation as soon as possible to learn more about your legal options and begin building your claim. Contact us today.