Many personal injury lawyers treat truck wreck cases as if they were simply big car wreck cases; and in so doing, they miss unique opportunities to maximize results for their clients. The focus of my practice is handling truck crash cases in Georgia and around the country (I have handled cases in over 25 States), usually on referral from, or in a co-counsel arrangement with, other personal injury lawyers. In this process, I have worked with many great lawyers and have learned a tremendous amount about how to best handle truck crash cases. I've developed a few tips that will help personal injury lawyers maximize recoveries in truck collision cases.
Tip#2 - Blackboxes Plus
Most lawyers know just enough about “blackboxes” to be dangerous. Trucks often contain very sophisticated systems that can capture, record and in some cases transmit data about the truck’s systems, operation and location. These systems are often built into the engine and other components of late model trucks, but there are also a host of aftermarket systems (often referred to as “telematics” systems) that tie operational data (coming from the truck’s engine control module) with GPS coordinates (coming from a separate GPS system).
Some of these systems allow those who know how to do so to look historically at breadcrumb reports that show speed and other operational data at any given time and/or location. Imagine what this can mean in terms of reconstruction of the relevant time leading up to a crash. Imagine what it can mean to proving a pattern or practice of dangerous conduct ignored by a trucking company. Some of these systems include messaging modules that allow two way communications between a trucker and dispatch. All of this information can prove invaluable to a lawyer handling a truck wreck claim. It is important to understand what information may be available and how to get it. Working with knowledgeable experts with experience in these uniquely trucking areas is of paramount importance.
I've battled some of the most powerful trucking companies to obtain justice for victims of catastrophic injuries or wrongful death. As a former police officer, I rely on my investigative and forensic skills in combination with cutting-edge work in psychodrama and communication theories to find the truth behind every case. I'm a board member of the Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America, and I was the first lawyer in Georgia certified by APITL America as a specialist in handling truck accident cases. I'm also an officer in the Interstate Trucking Litigation Group (ITLG) and founding member of the Truck Accident Attorneys Roundtable.
Content by Joe Fried mylawyerjoe@gmail.com