Seeking Justice

It can be devastating to hear that nobody will be held to account for causing this nightmare you are going through. We are here to say that you CAN effectively fight for justice. Many people in our community have been in this situation, and we have suggestions from our own experience to help you fight for justice.

What’s Next?

In the grip of grief or recovering from the trauma and injuries from a truck crash, many people find out there will be no criminal charges, or that the truck driver will only be charged with a misdemeanor. It can feel like nobody cares what happened to you and your family, or that your crash has been chalked up to an accident. Unfortunately, this happens frequently, and it simply depends on the culture and attitudes of the jurisdiction. You don’t have to accept this resolution. You will need to put in some work to understand the legalities of your crash. Use your civil attorney as a resource as you work to pursue criminal justice, and we are always available to help in any way we can.

Some of our volunteers have succeeded in gaining the support of prosecutors to pursue their cases against negligent truck drivers after being initially dismissed. We have compiled a set of suggestions based on their experiences to support you in your journey to justice along with some samples and best practices for achieving your goal.

Letter-Writing Campaigns

Rally your community and conduct a letter-writing campaign to the prosecutor’s office. This can bring attention to the case and even educate the prosecutor on the criminal issues related to the case.

Quote/blog type post from Anna

Sample letters

Leverage Media Contacts

You may have spoken with reporters in the immediate aftermath of your crash. Reach out to those reporters and let them know what’s going on with your case. If you don’t have a connection with a specific reporter, you can send an email to your local television news with information about your story. Writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper is another way to publicize your quest for justice to gain traction and support.

Sample message to television news.

Sample letter to the editor.

Maintain Communication with the Prosecutor’s Office

Most prosecutor’s offices have a victim advocate. Contact that person regularly for updates on your case. Make sure to communicate anything you have learned that is relevant to potential charges that can be filed. Some prosecutor’s offices may have a culture that attributes this kind of crash to bad luck or an unfortunate accident. Unfortunately, victims sometimes have to be the ones to educate them about the layers of negligence that often lead to truck crashes.