How Troopers Investigate Trucking Accidents in Virginia

Truck accidents are different from other wrecks. After a wreck involving a tractor-trailer has occurred in Virginia, Virginia State Police will send out a specialized trooper who knows all about motor carrier law to do an inspection on any big rig involved in a collision.  This is because federal rules may have been breached. The Federal Motor Carrier regulations are incorporated into the law for the Commonwealth of Virginia as they are in other states.  Virginia’s specialized and trained troopers know how to go over a tractor and trailer and make sure that all problems with the big rig are documented after a serious car accident with injuries or death.

Some of the systems that the Virginia state trooper will look at on the big rig after a collision caused by a truck driver would include basic things such as the brake systems, the tires, and the lights.  The motor carrier inspection is designed to see whether this large commercial vehicle was being operated in compliance with Virginia and federal law.  If the trooper thinks that some particular problem on the big rig was a cause of the truck wreck he will note that on his report.  For example, if the bald tires, or worn out brakes, or non-working lights caused the collision or contributed that would typically be noted on the trooper’s report after the accident.

As a Virginia trucking accident attorney, this report is one of the first and most important things I want to get my hands on after a truck wreck to make sure to know what evidence I need to get to prove the fault of the truck driver or his trucking company for causing the serious injuries to my client that I’m helping with.  This report is not done when there are just cars involved and is different from the regular state trooper police accident report.  It is additional information that only comes into play when a tractor-trailer or commercial vehicle is involved in a collision.