Can a trucking company be punished for repairing a truck before inspection?

Can a trucking company be punished for repairing a truck before inspection?

Absolutely. Repairing, returning to service, or altering a commercial truck before it has been inspected by the plaintiff’s forensic experts is one of the most egregious forms of evidence spoliation in truck accident cases. Courts have found this conduct — along with other evidence destruction — sufficient to impose severe sanctions including striking defenses, allowing punitive damage claims to proceed, and entering adverse inference instructions. The vehicle itself is often the single most important piece of evidence in a commercial truck crash: its brakes, tires, cargo restraints, lights, and structural components can all tell the story of what went wrong.