When victims are injured in truck accidents, they often wait for a police report and expect that the accident will be completely attributed to the truck driver. However, many victims are surprised when they receive the police report and findings are made that are adverse to them. A Longview truck accident lawyer can help you with your case, even if the police report does not support your version of events.

When a truck accident occurs, police are usually called to the scene to investigate the accident and to complete a police report. This is a standard procedure. When the police come to the scene of an accident, they may:

• Obtain an official statement from each driver
• Obtain a statement from witnesses
• Call for medical attention if necessary
• Take pictures of the accident scene
• Take measurements of damaged areas to the vehicle and tread marks on the ground
• Cite a driver for a traffic violation, if applicable

After the police officer gathers all of this information, he will make a report regarding his opinion of who was at fault for the accident. However, a police report is not meant to provide a basis for a civil lawsuit or to establish who the liable party is for the purposes of a court case. Although judges and juries may weigh this piece of evidence heavily, your case does not have to be ruined simply because the police report did not favor your perspective of events.

There are many reasons why a police report may be flawed or inaccurate. Some ways that a police report may be inaccurate include:

• The police officer failed to locate certain witnesses
• The police officer did not thoroughly investigate the accident
• The police officer did not check if the other driver was influenced by drugs or alcohol
• The police officer is biased against a particular motorist involved in the accident

If the police report supports your perspective, the defendant can use these possibilities against you. Without proper legal representation, if you rely only on the police report, you will likely be unable to prove your case against a well-represented defendant. A Longview truck accident lawyer can conduct a thorough investigation that goes above and beyond the investigation that a police officer conducts. You can then use your lawyer’s findings to support your position in court.

An experienced attorney will evaluate factors that may have contributed to the truck accident. He or she will evaluate the truck driver’s driving history, the trucking company’s policies regarding hiring procedures and maintenance records on the vehicle. The engine control module will also be evaluated. This important device maintains data regarding the speed the driver was going at the time of the accident, its RPM rate and the rate at which the brakes were being applied. This information can be used to refute or support the findings of a police report to help you prove your case.

If you have been injured in a truck accident, you need the services of a skilled Longview truck accident lawyer to assist you with your case. Call TODAY to schedule a complimentary case review.