A massive truck accident on Mobile’s busy highways can cause devastating injuries and property damage in seconds. In just hours to days after your crash, key evidence that could strengthen your injury case against the at-fault parties, like surveillance footage or driver logs, may quickly get cleared away, overwritten, lost, or destroyed.

At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, we don’t wait for the dust to clear before we begin to investigate your case and preserve evidence from the crash scene. We take immediate legal steps to protect and preserve available evidence, protecting your rights and best interests from day one. We want you to be able to focus on your recovery while we work diligently to recover the maximum possible compensation on your behalf.

We want to be clear that while many law firms seek to settle, we approach things differently. Our law firm always prepares and even pushes for a trial to bypass insurance company delays and avoid time-wasting low-settlement offers. Our objective is to pursue all possible legal measures to maximize recovery of the full compensation you need and deserve.

Schedule your FREE consultation with our trusted Mobile law firm today: 251-888-8888

What Evidence Do I Need After Being Involved in a Truck Accident in Alabama?

After a truck accident in Alabama, the evidence you collect may determine the strength of your case and whether you recover the full compensation you deserve. These are some of the types of evidence that together, build a robust, hard-to-dispute truck accident injury case in Mobile:

Crash Scene Evidence

Photos of vehicle damage, skid marks, road conditions, and the accident scene can show the severity of a crash. It may also provide insight into the truck driver’s actions leading up to the impact. For example, if there are no skid marks, it may indicate that the truck driver did not apply the brakes, raising several questions, including if the driver was distracted, impaired or driving while fatigued.

Crash scene investigators responding to the site will take images of the road, the damaged vehicles, and crash debris. First responders will also document important details, such as:

• The truck driver’s name, contact details, and statement
• Your name, contact details, and statement (along with any other drivers involved)
• The trucking company that employes the driver
• License plate of the truck and other vehicles involved in the crash
• Insurance company details for all drivers involved
• Weather conditions at the time of the crash
• Witness statements

Even though crash scene investigators will be documenting details from the crash scene, take a few minutes to write down or do a voice recording of the moments leading up to the crash and how it occurred. Be sure to do this soon after the crash so you remember key details that you are likely to forget later.

Medical Documents

Seek immediate medical attention after the crash, even if you don’t see any visible wounds and believe you feel fine. Adrenaline masks serious injuries that appear hours later. If you have a serious internal injury, time is critical. The sooner you are diagnosed and treated, the better your chances for an optimal recovery.

Getting medical help right away instead of waiting also creates a critical documentation in your medical records that directly links your injuries to the truck accident that caused them. Insurance companies do not look favorably on delays, and it gives them room to argue that your injuries could have happened elsewhere.

After your initial treatment and diagnosis, be sure to continue to track your treatment records, the doctors who treat you, any medications prescribed, including over-the-counter drugs, related to the crash and your injuries. This documentation provides evidence of the extent of your injuries and your pain and suffering.

Police Reports and Citations

The police report documenting the truck accident contains vital information about the accident, including the officer’s findings and any traffic citations issued to the drivers involved. Request a copy from the responding law enforcement agency within a few days. If the truck driver received a citation, this may strengthen your negligence claim significantly.

Truck Accident Evidence

Truck accident claims differ greatly from car crash claims in many ways, including specialized evidence not found in crashes involving two or more non-commercial motor vehicles. The truck’s electronic logs, for example, track the truck driver’s hours behind the wheel, revealing whether the driver has violated any federal hours-of-service rules.

Driver qualification files include the trucker’s license history, training records, and any past violations. Maintenance records of the truck involved also provide critical evidence, including whether mechanical problems contributed to the crash.

Financial Impact

Document all accident-related expenses, including medical costs, vehicle repairs, rental cars, and lost wages. Keep invoices, repair receipts, and employer statements that show missed work time and your regular salary.

How Quickly Can Evidence From a Truck Accident Get Lost or Destroyed?

When evidence is destroyed, it becomes harder to prove the other party was negligent. Below are some ways that evidence may quickly disappear:

• Electronic Data: The truck’s electronic logging device contains vital speed, braking, and hours-of-service information that could be destroyed, deleted or overwritten.
• Physical Evidence: Cleanup crews may quickly remove immediate evidence from the crash scene, such as broken glass, metal fragments, and spilled cargo to clear any traffic congestion.
• Vehicle Evidence: Once repairs begin, evidence related to impact angles and collision forces disappears.
• Witness Evidence: Witnesses quickly begin forgetting key details about the crash. They have no personal interest vested in the outcome of your case, making it more likely they will forget much of what happened.
• Digital Evidence: Video footage may be overwritten as soon as 24-72 hours for certain traffic cameras, while other footage may be available for up to 30-90 days. But it is important to remember that there are no guarantees with video footage, so it is vital to take legal measures to preserve this evidence right away.

Do I Need a Lawyer to Get Evidence From My Truck Accident in Mobile?

Our legal team manages serious truck accident cases every day. We know how to gather critical evidence on your behalf and protect your legal rights, even when facing a trucking company’s team of lawyers.

Trucking companies are not likely to voluntarily turn over internal records that prove their negligence. Driver qualification files, maintenance records, and safety inspection reports will likely require legal subpoenas to obtain.

A lawyer can issue litigation holds that compel trucking companies to preserve evidence before it is destroyed or lost. When you want lawyers that don’t mess around, contact our experienced truck accident attorneys in Mobile.

Electronic Logging Device Laws and Why They Matter for Your Alabama Truck Accident Case

Electronic Logging Devices are computer systems that automatically record a truck driver’s driving time, on-duty time, and rest periods. The device connects directly to the truck’s engine and cannot be easily manipulated like paper logbooks. Electronic logging devices are necessary because they provide reliable, unchangeable proof of safety rule violations, helping to demonstrate that the truck driver was at fault according to Alabama law.

ELD data shows exactly when truck drivers exceeded federal hour limits, creating irrefutable evidence of safety violations. Unlike witness testimony or driver statements, electronic records cannot be disputed or misinterpreted due to memory issues.

The time-stamped data proves drivers operated while fatigued in direct violation of federal regulations designed to prevent accidents. This objective evidence eliminates he-said-she-said disputes about what happened.

Alabama Truck Drivers Must Follow FMCSA ELD Regulations

Alabama truck drivers are required to follow federal Electronic Logging Device (ELD) regulations requiring commercial trucks to track driver hours electronically. These logs create solid evidence for your Mobile truck accident case when commercial truck drivers violate federal safety rules.

How Spoliation Letters Keep Trucking Companies From Destroying Evidence

A spoliation letter is a formal written demand sent to trucking companies requiring them to preserve all evidence related to your accident. The letter creates a legal duty to maintain records, electronic data, and physical evidence.

Once trucking companies receive spoliation letters, they have a legal duty to preserve all relevant evidence. Alabama courts impose severe sanctions for the destruction of evidence, including adverse jury instructions, monetary penalties, and default judgments.

These sanctions often exceed the original value of accident claims and force companies to pay your attorney fees.

Need Legal Help After Being Hit by a Truck Driver in Alabama? Call Our Trusted Law Firm Today

At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, we understand the importance of securing evidence before it disappears. When we represent you, our experienced legal team take immediate steps to secure the evidence needed for your case.

Worried about the cost? We charge no upfront costs or out-of-pocket fees to hire our firm. If we represent you and don’t win your case, you don’t owe us a dime. We have a proven history of success for our clients, and we are prepared to do what it takes to secure the maximum possible compensation on your behalf.

Hate the idea of your case going to trial? We have a remedy for that – we own the only realistic mock courtroom in Alabama and utilize this amazing facility to prepare our clients in a non-threatening environment. When their day in court comes, they are fully prepared and confident.

There’s a reason “Andy Wins!” Call to get started today: 251-888-8888