EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Crashes involving semi trucks can quickly become complicated, and an El Paso attorney says what drivers do in the moments afterward can make a major difference.

Attorney Daniela Labinoti said drivers should always call police to the scene after a crash with a semi truck. “True, true, a hundred percent always call the cops and document the evidence,” Labinoti said. She emphasized the importance of documenting “everything around you,” noting that officers prepare a police report that can serve as evidence.

Labinoti also pointed to the growing use of police body cameras, saying she has had cases where body camera footage helped establish what happened. She said she has had trucking cases “one because of the body cam because the truck driver told the officer why yeah man, I was at fault even though later on they changed the story; we were able to get the body cam so call the cops.”

Labinoti said it is false that truck drivers can legally drive unlimited hours without rest. “That is absolutely false,” she said, adding that there are regulations that limit the number of hours drivers can be on the road. She said driver logs can be important in investigating whether those rules were followed and said it can be important to have an attorney to help obtain and review data.

Labinoti said she has handled cases involving drivers who were on the road for extended periods. “I’ve had two cases where they were driving over 26 hours nonstop and then lost control and hurt many people,” she said. She called driving too long “the number one reason for accidents for truck drivers.”

She also said taking photos after a crash can help a personal injury case and that someone may still have a case even if they do not feel injured immediately. Labinoti said many people do not feel pain right away because of an adrenaline rush and may begin feeling symptoms later. “Within 72 hours you’ll feel the pain,” she said.

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