Checklist · at the sceneCommercial truck crash checklistWhat you capture that cars do not have.
A trucking company's investigators can reach the scene the same day. The driver's hours, the truck's electronic data, and the carrier's identity decide these cases, and each one can be lost or overwritten within weeks. Photograph the cab, the trailer, and the paperwork, then ask the officer the two questions below.
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Written and reviewed by Josh Kohanim, Esq., California Bar No. 328609 · Published · Reviewed
Captured
0 of 10
On the truck itself
From the driver and the officer
The same day
Why the first week decides a truck case
Electronic logs, dashcam loops, and telematics overwrite on a schedule. A preservation letter served this week freezes them. Served next month, they may already be gone, and gone evidence is the defense's best witness.
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Questions about commercial truck crash
Who can be liable after a commercial truck crash?
The driver, the motor carrier whose name is on the door, the owner of the trailer, the company that loaded it, the shipper, and a maintenance contractor can each carry a share. The USDOT number on the cab is how the carrier and its insurer are identified.
How long does a trucking company keep the driver's logs?
Federal rules require the carrier to keep hours of service records and supporting documents for six months. After that they can be lawfully destroyed, which is why a preservation letter has to go out in the first week.
Should I talk to the trucking company's insurance adjuster?
No. Their investigator's job is to build the carrier's defense, often starting the day of the crash. Give them our number and let the conversation happen between lawyers.
Have a question about your case?
Speak with an attorney. The review is free and you will get a direct answer.
Tell us what happened. We'll tell you where you stand.
Every case review is free, confidential, and handled by a licensed attorney. Someone is available 24 hours a day, and we usually respond right away. No commitment required.
Written and reviewed by Josh Kohanim, Esq., California Bar No. 328609 · Published · Reviewed