Ep. 93 - How Evidence Disappears After a Truck Crash || After the Crash Podcast

Some gas stations keep their security footage for only 14 days. Doorbell cameras record over themselves. And the trucking company's investigators are often working the scene before the 911 call is even finished. What happens in the first 48 hours after a semi-truck crash can decide the entire case, and most families have no idea the clock is already running. In this episode of *After the Crash*, Board-Certified Truck Accident Attorney David Craig sits down with Clint Crabtree, Craig, Kelley & Faultless’s Crash Response Team Coordinator. After 17 years working together, David and Clint break down exactly what a rapid response team does, who's on it, and why most law firms don't have one at all. From sending investigator Patrick Stewart to the scene with a GoPro and camera, to paralegal Grace Kaminsky getting preservation letters out the same day a case comes in, this conversation shows the real, behind-the-scenes work that protects evidence before it disappears. ✔️ Why gas station and doorbell camera footage can vanish in as little as 14 days ✔️ What a preservation letter is and why it has to go out immediately after a wreck ✔️ How the engine control module (the truck's "black box") captures speed, including one 120 MPH reading ✔️ What investigators find inside a truck cab, from bills of lading to hidden insurance coverage ✔️ How a Kansas City wrongful death case uncovered a hidden loading defect and millions in additional coverage ✔️ How a school bus crash was reenacted a year later to prove the bus was speeding David Craig is one of the few attorneys in the U.S. who is Board-Certified in Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and accredited by the American Bar Association. That means he meets rigorous experience, ethics, and knowledge standards to hold trucking companies and unsafe drivers accountable. With more than 39 years handling semi-truck wreck cases, David has seen firsthand how fast critical evidence disappears, and how often a case is made or broken in those first days. In one wrongful death case near Kansas City, the trucking company moved the semi two states away before a preservation letter could even go out. In another, a loaded trailer was about to be unloaded despite promises it wouldn't be. Because the team got there in time, they documented a hidden loading defect, built a case against the shipper, and secured the coverage that provided for a family who lost their father and breadwinner. 👉 Key takeaway: In a serious truck wreck, the evidence that answers "what really happened" is often gone within days. Getting the right team on it fast is what makes the difference. — 00:00 – Why Time Matters Most in Serious Truck Wreck Cases 00:47 – Clint Crabtree Returns: 17 Years Running the Rapid Response Team 02:30 – Meet Patrick Stewart: The Investigator Sent to the Scene 03:38 – How Gas Station & Doorbell Video Gets Lost in 14 Days 06:07 – Why You Can't Secure This Evidence on Your Own 09:52 – Grace Kaminsky & the Preservation Letters That Go Out Immediately 13:13 – Retaining Experts and Coordinating the Joint Inspection 15:06 – What's Really Inside the Truck Cab: Paperwork, Hidden Coverage & More 18:16 – When Trucking Companies Break the Rules: Restraining Orders 19:58 – The Kansas City Case: How a Hidden Defect Opened Millions in Coverage 21:23 – Investigating the Trucking Company: Safer Website & Background Checks 24:33 – Downloading the Black Box: ECM Data and a 120 MPH Reading 25:52 – The School Bus Case: Reenacting a Wreck to Prove Speed 30:02 – Ongoing Investigation Through Mediation and Trial 32:12 – Why CKF Invests in Training, Equipment & the Team — If you or someone you know has been involved in a truck crash, don’t wait. Visit https://ckflaw.com or call 1-800-ASK-DAVID for experienced legal help. — Why Listen to After the Crash? Navigating the aftermath of a trucking accident can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. This podcast is designed to educate and empower victims and their families, helping you make informed decisions about your future. — Learn About the Firm: At Craig, Kelley & Faultless, LLC, we’ve dedicated over 30 years to fighting for trucking accident victims. From preserving evidence to holding negligent trucking companies accountable, our mission is to protect your rights and secure the justice you deserve. — Download Semitruck Wreck for FREE: https://www.ckflaw.com/truck-accident-ebook/ Follow Us on Socials: Website: https://www.ckflaw.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ckflaw LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/craig-kelley-&-faultless-attorneys-at-law Contact Us: Email: [email protected] Phone: 1-800-ASK-DAVID #TruckAccident #RapidResponse #TruckingSafety #SemiTruckCrash #EvidencePreservation #BlackBoxData #DavidCraig #CraigKelleyFaultless #AfterTheCrash #TruckAccidentLawyer