Chicago is the third-largest city in Illinois. People love to visit Chicago for its world-class cultural museums, scenic lakeside locations, and unique architecture. Due to the crowded highways, truck accidents have become common in Chicago. A report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that large trucks accounted for 9.3% of the deadly accidents that occurred in Illinois in 2021. A Chicago truck accident lawyer can help you if you have been hurt in a truck accident.
To prove the negligence, you should gather and preserve evidence that shows how the truck accident happened in Chicago and who was at fault. Read this blog post to learn the types of evidence you should gather.
The Evidence You Should Gather to Prove Negligence
1. Photos and Videos of the Accident Site
2. Medical Records
3. Eyewitness Statement
4. Black Box Data
5. Police Report
6. Inspection and Maintenance Records
Photos and Videos of the Accident Scene
After the truck accident, you should capture photos and videos as soon as possible. Try to take photos of the logos, license plates, and identification numbers of the truck, as well as the contact details of the truck driver and trucking company.
Photos and videos play an important role in proving negligence in a truck accident claim. It helps you to show
- Damages to the vehicles
- The traffic signs
- The road conditions
- The climatic condition
- Any other relevant factors
Medical Records
Your medical record is one of the most important pieces of evidence in a truck accident claim. This can help you prove the severity of your injuries, the treatment you received, and the expenses you incurred.
The following are some of the necessary medical documents:
- Medical bills
- Scans
- Receipts
- Prescriptions
- Test results
By attending all your doctor’s appointments and following the doctor’s advice regularly, you can prove that you are not exaggerating your injuries.
Eyewitness Statements
Basically, eyewitnesses can provide valuable testimony about what they saw and heard during and after the truck accident. It will help you prove the negligence of truck drivers.
That’s why you need to get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of anyone who witnessed the truck crash.
Black Box Data
The black box data is the data recorder, which records and stores data about the speed, steering, acceleration, braking, and other functions of the truck. It serves as major evidence about the truck driver’s operations before and during the truck accident, such as:
1. How fast was the truck going?
2. How often did the truck driver apply the brakes?
3. How long has the truck been on the road?
4. How hard did the truck driver hit the brakes?
5. How did the truck driver react to the accident?
There is a high chance that black box data can be erased or tampered with by the truck driver or trucking company. That is one of the main reasons you need to get the black box data from them immediately.
Police Report
After a truck accident, you should report it to the police immediately. Then, the police officer will investigate and find the primary cause of your truck crash. Then, they will provide you with the police report immediately. Here is the information that will be included in the police reports:
- Details of the truck accident
- Contact information of the truck driver, trucking company, and witnesses
- Driver statements
- Diagrams and photos
- Statements of witnesses
- Citations
Inspection and Maintenance Records
It is the best evidence to show whether the truck was properly inspected and maintained by the truck driver or the trucking company.
Suppose the records reveal any defects or failures; this can help you prove the negligence of the truck driver or the trucking company.
Final Thoughts
All the above evidence is crucial in proving the negligence in the truck accident in Chicago. It is always better to get legal assistance from an experienced attorney who can help you get fair compensation.
