Wyzga On Words

A Little Help From Friends.

My parents taught me that we rarely get anywhere alone.  While our successes are often a product of our determination, tenacity, resilience, creativity and the like we would be really rude and self-centered if we failed to acknowledge the help of friends and others along the way. 

Recently I was on a trial team involving a truck wreck.  I needed some help.  I turned to two lawyers.  One I had met in March 2011 and the other almost a decade ago.  Both men immediately took my call.  Both men gave me their time, their resources, tips and techniques.  Both men wrote to inquire how the trial was coming along and what else they could do to help the team.  Neither one asked for a dime.

It's true what they say: You Gotta Have Friends. 

With deep gratitude to trial attorneys Morgan G. Adams and Joseph (Joe) A. Fried for stepping up to the plate to share what they know to benefit strangers somewhere across a crowded country.  Please take a moment to visit their websites, read their blogs and pass it on.  As the story goes, we have multi-million reasons that the right case story told right is not just "storytelling."

Thank you, Morgan and Joe, from down here on the knees of my heart.

Q&A Tuesday: Basic Discovery For Truck Wreck Cases

  

Q:    I have a truck wreck case, now what?

A:    Create a truck wreck investigation plan.

TIPS:    

1. Retain the services of an experienced and qualified expert with integrity and a strong background in truck wreck accident reconstruction.
2. Inspect the truck with your expert and take photographs or videotape of the process.
3. Visit the scene of the wreck with your expert and take more photographs and videotapes from every angle you can arrange for, including a bird's-eye view if you can manage that.  
4. Gather all police reports, photographs, diagrams, and exhibits.
5. Create a list of all first responders (police, EMS, tow truck companies, and the like), investigators and witnesses for your interview and/or deposition list.
6. Document retrieval is imperative: driver log book; truck maintenance and repair records; employee records; commercial licenses, certifications and continuing education; cell phone logs; dispatch logs; receipts for gas, tolls, hotels/motels, food, and weight stations; driver record and moving violations; truck violations; and safety performance data from SafeStat.
7. If this wreck was a newsworthy event in the area, get the TV, radio and newspaper accounts.  
8. Think globally from the driver to his employer to the corporation to request safety training, policies, procedures, safety meetings, rules, and regulations devoted to driver and rig safety education, monitoring, supervision, reprimand or punishment.
9. Visit the employer/corporation's website to read what they say is important to them when it comes to trucks, drivers and safety in the community; how they support or violate what they say.
10. Develop the Deposition List: truck driver; dispatcher; human resources personnel; safety and training personnel or manager; fleet manager; maintenance personnel; witnesses; and, the corporate representative(s).

Start the plan and work the plan so you are not left