Truck accidents are some of the most frightening on Texas roads. In 2024, there were 11,209 injuries caused by truck and bus accidents in Texas. Tragically, a further 753 lost their lives.
If a truck accident has left you reeling from serious injuries or grieving the loss of a loved one, you need the support of a truck accident lawyer who will thoroughly investigate your case. A truck accident investigation can uncover who is responsible and can help you build a strong case for compensation that could get your life back on track.
In this article, we will explore how truck accident investigations are conducted in Texas and how they can help you pursue justice.
Initial Response: Law Enforcement
Immediately after a truck accident occurs, peace officers and emergency medical services will be called to the scene.
The peace officer will take control of the crash scene and begin documenting evidence, which may include:
- Photographing the scene from every angle
- Interviewing witnesses and recording their contact details
- Noting the injuries
- Conducting sobriety tests
- Issuing tickets for violations
- Gathering information for the police report, including their opinion of what led up to the accident
It’s crucial at this time to cooperate with medical personnel. Even if you feel fine, you may have sustained injuries that do not cause immediate symptoms. Seeking medical help creates a clear link between your injuries and the truck accident. Your medical records will become important evidence in your truck accident case.
After your accident, you will be able to request a copy of the official Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (Form CR-3), which your truck accident attorney may use to support further investigations.
State and Federal Investigations
Depending on the circumstances, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) may also investigate your case, especially if the accident happened on a state highway. DPS officers can examine the scene, looking for evidence of what caused the accident. This may include analyzing vehicle wreckage, skid marks, and the distances between vehicles.
If the accident was particularly severe, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) may investigate the crash. The FMCSA’s investigation may go beyond the accident scene to investigate whether the trucking company or driver violated federal trucking regulations. This may include analyzing driving logs, trucking company records, and maintenance logs to find evidence of violations.
What Truck Accident Investigations Focus on
Truck accident investigators must look at an accident from various angles. Here are some lines of inquiry that can help them build a full picture of what happened and who was responsible.
Potential evidence may include:
- Physical evidence: The wreckage of the truck and other vehicles can give evidence of the speed at which the vehicles were traveling and where the impact occurred. Vehicles will also be examined for evidence of mechanical failures, such as tire blowouts and brake failures.
- Component failure: Truck manufacturers can be held liable if their components fail and cause an accident. If this is suspected, investigators can request a detailed inspection of components to look for evidence of failure.
- Black box data: Some commercial trucking companies now install black box data recorders. A black box can record speed, braking patterns, and other information that can give investigators insight into what happened before the crash.
- Interviewing witnesses: Witnesses can include bystanders, drivers of other vehicles, and passengers in the vehicles involved in the crash. Each can give an insight into what caused the accident and who was liable.
- Trucking company records: According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), driver fatigue is implicated in 30 to 40 percent of all heavy trucking accidents. Driver hours records could show that the driver had exceeded the federal limits when the accident happened. Maintenance records may show that necessary repairs were not carried out in a timely fashion.
The Role of Accident Reconstruction Experts
In serious cases that cause catastrophic injuries, a truck accident lawyer may hire an accident reconstruction expert to analyze the truck crash independently. By examining physical evidence, skid marks, and other evidence, they can use computer modeling to recreate what happened in the moments before the accident.
An accident reconstruction expert can prepare a report and even testify in court. This could help prove who was liable for the accident and give you a better chance of securing the compensation you deserve.
Why Truck Accident Investigations Matter
A thorough truck accident investigation is essential for settling questions of liability. Truck accidents are notoriously complex, as they can involve multiple liable parties. A thorough investigation can help your attorney look beyond the driver and possibly identify multiple parties to pursue for compensation.
Pursue Justice With Fielding Law
After a Texas truck accident, you need an advocate on your side who will thoroughly investigate your crash. One who will not be satisfied with a surface-level investigation but will dig deep to identify potential sources of compensation.
At Fielding Law, our relentless focus on the best interests of our clients means we take truck accident investigations very seriously. In one notable case, our client required emergency surgery after being struck by a semi-truck that failed to stop at a stop sign. We hired an expert to investigate the case and secured a $505,000 settlement for our client.
Do not delay in discovering how much your claim could be worth. Call Fielding Law today at (877) 880-4090 or contact us online for a free consultation and take the first step on the road to justice.
