All of our employers keep records about us. They may include our resume or job application. Those records can include our personal information, including tax documents. Employer records can also include information about our job performance including reviews and write-ups for breaking the rules. Employer records in an 18 wheeler accident investigation can be critical.
Employers also have documents that they give to new employees. Trucking companies may have handbooks or training manuals that they give to new drivers. Some employers require employees to take training classes and sign a form proving their attendance. These courses can cover everything from how to do their jobs to safety requirements.
Why are Employer Records Important to an 18 Wheeler Accident Investigation?
Employee handbooks and training manuals can reveal:
- The training the driver received
- If the training taught them to do the job they were doing at the time of the accident
- What safety training the driver received
- Did that safety training address the issue at hand
Looking at the training and materials given to the driver by the trucking company can help us know if the driver was given the tools they needed to work safely. Often, employers send drivers off hoping they know how to do their job, but not knowing.
Reviewing employee records show more about the driver, including:
- Past driving record, do they have a history of reckless driving or speeding
- Drug/alcohol tests
- Whether they have been reprimanded or terminated
- History of prior accidents
- Complaints received from other drivers on the road
This information can show that they trucking company knew they had a dangerous driver on the road before the accident.
Records about the Truck
Trucking companies also keep maintenance records on the truck. Following a regular maintenance schedule can help prevent equipment failures that lead to accidents. Also, making necessary repairs can do the same. Truck owners should have records of these efforts.
Reviewing maintenance records can demonstrate a lack of adequate care. They can also show a lack of repairs. If both were necessary and could have been part of the cause of the accident, this information can help make a case.
Employer records are only one part of the puzzle of investigating an 18 wheeler accident. It is important to start investigating right away after an accident. Learn more about the importance of starting your investigation early after an 18 wheeler accident.
