When you suffer injuries in a collision caused by a truck driver, you will have to prove the truck driver’s negligence in order to obtain the compensation that you deserve. Even if you believe that the driver’s fault in causing the wreck is clear-cut, his insurance company could very well argue that your own negligence caused or contributed to the crash in an effort to deny or reduce your claim. One powerful piece of evidence that can help you prove what really happened can be the truck’s dash cam footage.
Two Types of Dash Cams Used on Commercial Trucks
While not required under federal regulations governing the trucking industry, more commercial trucking companies are having dashboard cameras installed in their trucks to promote safety and to monitor their truck drivers’ behaviors. There are two types of dash cams used and each can provide different evidence that may be helpful in your case:
- Driver-facing cameras. These dashboard cameras are similar to the ones used in police vehicles and record the trucker’s actions. They can show if he was engaging in a negligent action, such as texting, dozing off, or reaching for something in his cab, in the moments leading up to your collision.
- Forward-facing cameras. A forward-facing camera will record what is in front of the truck. This camera footage can show if the truck driver was driving too close to a vehicle in front of him, made an unsafe lane change, or was engaging in other negligent driving behaviors.
How an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney Can Help You Obtain Dash Cam Footage
While dashboard camera footage can be extremely important evidence in your case, the trucking company will most likely not voluntarily provide it to you. You need to retain an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible after your crash to preserve this and other vital evidence before it is destroyed. He can quickly send the trucking company a spoliation letter advising them of your claim and demanding that they provide him with documents and other evidence, such as camera footage, that can establish the truck driver’s negligence.
If you or a loved one were injured in a big-rig truck accident, we encourage you to contact our office to schedule your free consultation with a member of our skilled truck accident legal team today. We can explain your legal options and how we will aggressively fight to obtain the compensation that you deserve for your injuries.
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