In Root Causes of Truck Crashes, armored transport expert witness Jim McGuffey, CPP, writes:
Most attorneys representing clients in a truck crash and injury case hire an expert in accident reconstruction. While this is appropriate, the vast majority of these experts have not had full Profit and Loss (P&L) responsibility for managing trucking companies which is crucial in understanding what led to the crash.
Understanding the root cause of a truck crash requires more than understanding speed of travel, weather conditions, traffic conditions and driver or roadway conditions. While understanding these elements are essential to determine fault, there are several internal documents that must be examined to determine whether the organization consciously placed the lives of their employees and the public at risk. Examination of documents such as training programs, fleet maintenance records and financial records also help to determine whether a company puts profits ahead of safety.