In Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety reported that there were over 5,300 truck accidents, leading to nearly 1,500 injuries. Since trucks are so much larger and heavier than the average passenger vehicle, the potential for catastrophic injuries is far greater.
Truck accidents in Minnesota are typically investigated by various entities, including law enforcement agencies, the Minnesota State Patrol, and potentially other specialized agencies. The investigation process aims to determine the cause of the accident, identify any contributing factors, and assign liability.
Have you been injured in a truck accident? If so, it is important to consult with a qualified truck accident attorney. It is not enough to find just anyone; you need someone who specializes in Minnesota truck accident cases to understand your specific legal options. They can evaluate the details of your case, guide you through the legal process, and help you pursue the appropriate legal action to seek compensation for your losses. At 1-800-Injured, we help you do so.
Minnesota Truck Accident Investigations
In Minnesota, when you’re involved in a commercial truck accident, initial responders will likely be law enforcement officers well-versed in responding quickly to the scene of any incident, along with the State Patrol. Their first concern is to look after everybody’s safety and evaluate how events have progressed, coordinating with other emergency response agencies if needed.
Once these fundamental concerns have been taken care of, investigators then step in to manage incident investigations. They work hard from the beginning.This involves collecting detailed information from witness accounts and photographs, measuring skid marks or debris found at the crime scene, and surveying the commercial truck involved in the accident for faults or defects that may have contributed towards what happened. When trying to figure out why things escalated rapidly leading up and during a collision, crucial information is often found on a truck’s provided event data recorder (EDR).
Black Boxes
Black boxes, also known as event data recorders (EDRs) or electronic control modules (ECMs), play a crucial role in truck accident investigations. These devices are installed in many commercial trucks and record important data related to the vehicle’s operation and performance leading up to and during an accident.
In truck accident investigations, black boxes can provide objective and valuable information about the events leading up to a collision. Black boxes in trucks, just like airplanes, are designed to collect and store various types of data. This includes vehicle speed, acceleration, braking, engine RPM, seatbelt usage, and other critical parameters. They record the data from a short period before and after an accident, helping investigators understand the sequence of events leading to the collision.
They serve as a crucial tool in determining the causes of accidents and assessing liability. The data retrieved from the black box can be utilized to reconstruct the accident. Accident reconstruction experts can analyze the recorded information, such as vehicle speed, braking patterns, and engine performance. This data is used to determine factors like the point of impact, the speed at the time of the collision, and the actions taken by the driver leading up to the accident.
Questioning and Gathering Evidence
After an accident, every party is questioned fully. Often, these accident experts bring their specialized knowledge to the investigation, like reconstruction techniques and software for even more complicated facts presentations.
The final step after gathering all evidence is to compile all of the experts’ findings into a detailed report which can be used by legal professionals and insurance companies alike. This final report will be one your personal injury attorney will certainly want access to, as it will be a huge piece of evidence in why you deserve financial compensation after the accident.
Contact 1-800-Injured to Move Forward With Your Case
Remember that investigation procedures are unique to each situation surrounding commercial truck accidents, based on severity or complexity of what happened in particular. This makes seeking help from experienced personal injury attorneys within Minnesota essential following an accident. Navigating through our state’s legal system can be complex at best, and it’s not something to attempt on your own.
While there are many knowledgeable personal injury lawyers, the right one to represent you should have experience with your type of personal injury. At 1-800-Injured, we simplify your search processes by connecting you with top-tier personal injury attorneys focused exclusively on serving clients throughout every step of the claims process and seeking proper compensation due to injuries resulting from others’ negligence. Working with us means taking much-needed stress off of your recovery efforts.
With legal representation from a personal injury attorney, you may be able to recover compensation for the damages you’ve suffered. This includes medical bills, lost wages, property damages, pain and suffering, rehabilitation costs, and more. If you’ve had an injurious truck accident in Minnesota, don’t wait too long; contact us today!