How We Investigate and Prove Fault in
Serious Truck Accident Cases

By Pritzker Olsen, P.A.
The Truck Accident and Safety Lawyers

We are truck safety attorneys representing injured people and the families of those killed by unsafely operated trucks. We have decades of experience with truck accident cases and have collected millions of dollars on behalf of our clients.

We’re often asked how we go about representing our truck accident clients and how we prove our cases against negligent truck drivers and unsafe truck companies. While every case is different and requires special action tailored to the unique facts of the case, there are certain general practices common to all cases that only highly-experienced truck accident law firms like ours have the skill and experience to fully utilize.

For victim compensation information, read "How Much Money is My Truck Accident Case Worth?"

Investigation of Negligent Truck Driver

In serious injury and wrongful death cases around the United States, we first investigate the conduct of negligent truck drivers and determine whether that conduct is in violation of federal, state and industry standards including the policies of the companies for whom the drivers are employed. We also evaluate the safety practices of large and small trucking companies to determine if there are patterns and practices affecting truck safety.

Investigation of Crash Scene

Trucking Accident Our first job is to thoroughly investigate the crash giving rise to serious injury or death. This involves visiting and documenting the scene (including use of special photogrammetric cameras that both preserve and measure the crash scene). It also includes obtaining all police records and reports, interviewing witnesses, preparing scale and custom diagrams and collecting truck company safety data through federal and state law channels. It also involves retaining and working with the very best truck safety experts in the United States, including accident reconstructionists, truck inspectors, and transportation safety engineers, among others.

Investigation of Trucking Company and Possible
Violations of Federal and State Law

With few exceptions, truck drivers and trucking companies have to comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). These regulations govern virtually every aspect of truck and truck company operation. Violation of these regulations is evidence of negligence. Thus, we carefully collect and scrutinize FMCSR-mandated documents in order to determine if a collision occurred as a result of an FMCSR violation. Free copies of these regulations and much more information about them are available at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration web site, http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/.

State law also governs the conduct of truck drivers and trucking companies. In investigating a severe injury or fatal truck accident, we carefully determine if the conduct of the driver or company violated state law (in addition to federal law violations).

Most truck drivers are required to have a commercial driver license (CDL). Every state has a manual that sets forth the requirements for that CDL. The manuals, with relatively few exceptions tailored to an individual state’s laws, follow the CDL Manual published by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA). Thus, when we investigate a trucking accident, we evaluate our investigation findings in light of the requirements set forth in the applicable state’s CDL manual. Driver conduct in violation of his state’s CDL manual is additional evidence of negligence.

There are also a number of industry groups that promulgate rules and regulations regarding truck safety. Although they do not have the force of law, they are evidence of due care, the standard by which truckers and truck companies are evaluated to determine if they were negligent.

One such organization is the Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI), a nonprofit organization that develops standards for driver training courses and motor carrier driver-finishing programs. PTDI standards may be found at the organization’s web site, http://www.ptdi.org/standards/index.aspx. Other private standards companies that develop formal training materials for commercial vehicle operators include J.J. Keller & Associates and the Commercial Vehicle Training Association.

As with government regulations, we evaluate the conduct of truck drivers that cause crashes by comparing that conduct with the standards of these and other agencies. Dangerous conduct in violation of these standards is evidence of negligence.

Most trucking companies have their own internal rules and regulations. Part of our investigation into any serious or fatal truck accident involves obtaining the trucking company’s own standards and determining whether they were violated by the conduct of the truck driver involved in the crash. Such violations are often the most compelling evidence since they involve violations of the rules their employers required them to follow.

If you have questions about a serious truck accident case or would like to have a free consultation with one of highly trained and experience truck accident lawyers about a lawsuit against a trucking company and insurance proceeds, call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free), email Attorney Fred Pritzker or submit our online consultation form.

United Parcel Service, FedEx Ground, Schneider National, Roadway Express, Inc., Yellow Transportation Inc., FedEx Freight, J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc., Swift Transportation Co., Con-Way Transportation Services, Overnite Transportation, Ryder Integrated Logistics, Werner Enterprises, Inc., ABF Freight System, Inc., United Van Lines, Inc., USF Holland, Holland, Penske Logistics, Inc., Watkins Motor Lines, Inc., Allied Systems, Ltd., Estes Express Lines, U.S. Xpress Ent., Landstar Ranger, Old Dominion Freight Line, Averitt Express, Inc., North American Van Lines, Covenant Transport, TNT Logistics, Crete Carrier Corporation, Saia Motor Freight Line, C. R. England, Southeastern Freight Lines, Landstar Inway, Inc., Mayflower Transit, Inc., Atlas Van Lines, Inc., Allied Van Lines, AAA Cooper Transportation, Heartland Express, Central Freight Lines, Inc., Interstate Distributor Co., Celadon Trucking Services, Contract Freighters, Inc., Anderson Trucking Services, Ruan Transportation Corp., Dart Transit Company, Marten Transport, Ltd., Frozen Food Express, Knight Transportation, Jevic Transportation, Velocity Express, USA Truck, Inc., Stevens Transport, Inc., Reddaway, P.A.M.Transport, Inc., USF Logistics, Inc., Dynamex, Inc., Dallas, Transport Corp. Of America, KLLM, Inc. 251,889, Landstar Ligon, Inc., Forward Air Corp. Inc., USF Dugan, New England Motor Freight, Mercer Transportation, CSX Freight Services, New Penn Motor Express, Pitt-Ohio Express, Inc., Cardinal Freight, Shaffer Trucking, Western Express, Bekins Van Lines, Ace Transportation, Inc., G.I.Trucking Company, Kenan Transport Co., Paschall Truck Lines, Inc., National Freight, Inc., The Waggoners Trucking, Roehl Transport, Inc., Cassens Transport Co., Arnold Transportation Services, CD&L, Superior, Gainey Transportation Services, Motor Cargo, Ashley Distribution Services, Gordon Trucking, Inc., Dawes Transport, Inc., USF Bestway, Vitran Express, Arrow Trucking Company, Roberson Transportation, Graebel Van Lines, Inc., Leaseway Motorcar, Roadrunner Freight Systems, Navajo Express, Inc., Groendyke Transport, Inc., Supervalu Transportation Inc., Jack Cooper Transport. Co., Maverick Transportation, Inc.

Alabama AL, Arkansas AK, Arizona AZ, Arkansas AR, California CA, Colorado CO, Connecticut CT, Delaware DL, District of Columbia DC, Florida FL, wrongful death, Georgia GA, Idaho ID, Illinois IL, Indiana IN, Iowa IA, Kansas KS, Kentucky KY, Louisiana LA, Maine ME, Maryland MD, Massachusetts MA, TBI and head injury, Michigan MI, Minnesota MN, Mississippi MS, Missouri MO, Montana MT, Nebraska NE, New Hampshire NH, New Jersey NJ, New York NY, North Carolina NC, North Dakota ND, Ohio OH, broken bones, Oklahoma OK, Pennsylvania PA, Rhode Island RI, South Carolina SC, South Dakota SD, Tennessee TN, Texas TX, Vermont VT, Virginia VA, Washington WA, West Virginia WV, Wisconsin WI, and Wyoming WY.

Free Case Consultation

Top Settlements and Verdicts

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Wins Millions for Client

Attorney Fred Pritzker won $6,000,000 for a client whose right leg was amputated when the motorcycle on which she was a passenger was struck by a drunk driver. If you have been in an accident with a DUI driver, you may have a cliam against a bar or other place that sells alcohol.

Truck Wheel Accident Death

Our law firm recently won $2,850,000 for a family whose loved one was killed by a truck wheel that crashed through a car windshield. Read about a truck wheel off accident.

Tow Truck Accident

Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Elliot Olsen obtained a $2,750,000 recovery for a 59 year-old truck driver who suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the loss of his left eye and significant disfigurement when the tow chain being used to pull the man’s semi tractor-trailer out of a ditch broke loose from a front-end loader to which it was attached.

Semi-Truck Crash Settlement

Pritzker Olsen attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman recently obtained a hard-fought $2,560,000 recovery for a couple who were seriously injured in a semi-truck crash. The husband suffered serious head injury (TBI). Read about the semi truck crash settlement.

Our lawyers have recovered millions more for our clients. Contact us for a free consultation about your accident.

This is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The result of each case is determined by the specific facts and the applicable law.

Practice Areas

Semi Truck Accident Lawyer

Pritzker Olsen Attorneys

How We Investigate and Prove Fault in Serious Truck Accident Cases