The sudden squealing of tires. The sickening crunch of metal. In a split second, your life changes forever when a speeding semi-truck slams into your vehicle. Now, you're facing a long recovery and mounting expenses as you wonder how you'll prove the truck driver's dangerous speed caused the crash.
At Keller & Keller, our Albuquerque truck accident lawyers know that excessive speed is a leading cause of commercial vehicle collisions. We also understand the technical and legal aspects of proving a truck driver's speed. Find out what evidence your legal team can gather to build a strong case and how they can use it to secure your compensation.
Event Data Recorders Provide Valuable Clues
Most commercial trucks manufactured after the mid-1990s are equipped with event data recorders (EDRs), similar to the "black boxes" found on airplanes. In the event of a crash, the EDR captures crucial data, including:
- Vehicle speed at the time of impact
- Average speed in the seconds before the collision
- Brake application and force
- Throttle position
- Cruise control status
- Seat belt usage
Your attorney can subpoena the EDR data and work with experts to analyze the information. This data can provide compelling evidence that the truck was traveling at an unsafe speed during the crash.
However, trucking companies aren't required to preserve EDR data indefinitely. It's crucial to act quickly and hire an Albuquerque truck accident lawyer who can send a spoliation letter demanding that the company preserve this vital evidence.
GPS Records Help Establish Speed and Location
Many trucking companies use GPS tracking systems to monitor their fleet's location and movement. Your legal team can request these records during the discovery process.
GPS data can show the truck's position and average speed leading up to the collision. If the GPS records indicate the driver consistently exceeded posted speed limits before the crash, this can support your claim that excessive speed contributed to the collision.
Your attorney may also cross-reference GPS data with posted speed limits and road conditions to determine if the truck was traveling too fast for the circumstances, even if not exceeding the legal limit.
Dashcam Footage May Capture the Driver's Actions
Some trucking companies equip their vehicles with forward-facing dashcams to monitor road conditions and driver behavior. If the truck that hit you had a dashcam, the footage could provide valuable evidence of the moments leading up to the crash.
Dashcam footage may show the truck rapidly approaching slower traffic or failing to slow down in poor weather conditions. This visual evidence can demonstrate that the driver's speed was unsafe for the situation.
Your Albuquerque truck accident attorney can demand preservation of any dashcam footage during discovery. An expert can analyze the video to estimate the truck's speed based on the rate at which it approaches other vehicles or landmarks.
Eyewitness Statements Provide Additional Perspective
While eyewitness accounts can be subjective, they can still offer valuable supporting evidence in a truck accident case. Passengers in your vehicle, occupants of other cars, or bystanders may have noticed the truck speeding before the collision.
Your legal team will work to identify and interview potential eyewitnesses. They'll gather written statements detailing the witnesses' observations of the truck's speed and movements in the moments before impact.
Consistent eyewitness statements describing the truck as "speeding," "barreling down," or "flying past" other vehicles can bolster the technical evidence and help establish a clear picture of the driver's negligence.
Accident Reconstruction Experts Analyze Evidence
Building a compelling case often requires the expertise of an accident reconstruction specialist. These experts use scientific principles and specialized software to analyze the physical evidence and create a detailed model of how the crash occurred.
Accident reconstruction experts can use data from the EDR, GPS records, dashcam footage, and physical evidence from the scene to calculate the truck's speed at various points leading up to the collision. They can also determine how the speed affected the driver's ability to brake or maneuver to avoid the crash.
Your Albuquerque truck accident lawyer will work closely with trusted accident reconstruction experts to build a straightforward, evidence-based narrative of the collision and the role the truck's speed played in causing your injuries.
Experienced Legal Representation Matters in Truck Accident Cases
At Keller & Keller, our dedicated legal team understands the physical, emotional, and financial toll a serious truck accident can take on victims and their families. We have the resources and experience to investigate your case thoroughly, gather critical evidence, and build a compelling argument for the compensation you deserve.
