Immediate priorities
Identify the tractor, trailer, license plates, carrier name, USDOT number, cargo markings, and responding agencies when it is safe to do so. Commercial vehicles can involve separate owners, carriers, employers, brokers, shippers, and maintenance companies.
Evidence and records
Preserve scene and vehicle photographs, witness details, medical records, dashcam files, and correspondence. Potential commercial records include dispatch data, electronic logging device records, bills of lading, inspection files, maintenance history, driver qualification material, onboard video, and post-incident testing records where applicable.
People and organizations to identify
The driver may work for a carrier, contractor, staffing company, or another entity. The tractor and trailer may have different owners. A shipper, loading company, broker, maintenance provider, or component manufacturer may require investigation without being responsible merely because it participated.
Questions for an Injury Law Firm
- Does the firm regularly investigate commercial carrier and equipment records?
- Which short-lived electronic or video records require attention?
- How will the firm distinguish the carrier, owner, employer, broker, and shipper?
- Has the firm explained staffing, experts, expenses, and written fee terms?
State law still controls
Deadlines, shared fault, public entity procedures, insurance systems, workers’ compensation, waivers, and evidentiary rules vary. Use the relevant state page and ask a licensed lawyer to identify the governing law from the verified facts.