Expert witnesses are almost a necessity when establishing negligence and liability in a truck accident case. They provide an objective and professional opinion about your claim. These experts are often needed when the subject matter is too complex and difficult for the average person to understand.
Trucking companies and their insurers will try to shift blame in these cases, and you can refute their claims with the help of an expert witness.
At Frost Law Firm, PC, we have worked with numerous expert witnesses over the years, and we know how their testimony can be a powerful tool in a trucking accident case.
If you want to know, “Will my truck accident case need expert witnesses?” We have a few answers for you.
Why You Need an Expert Witness
According to an Academic of Forensic Pathology journal article, expert witnesses have assisted in civil cases for over 250 years. These professionals clarify complex concepts, explain technical jargon, and offer insights into the trucking industry.
In truck accident cases, you need someone who can provide testimony about industry-specific regulations and guidelines. Additionally, they can demonstrate what rules were not followed in your specific situation.
Consequently, they can help establish whether negligence or liability occurred. Most importantly, they can show who may be responsible for any damages or harm that resulted.
Types of Expert Witnesses for Your Case
When it comes to truck accident cases, expert witnesses have the technical knowledge and professional opinions to help sway a judge or jury in your favor. Some of the most common types include:
Medical Specialists
If you suffered physical injuries, you want a medical specialist to testify for your side. They can provide insights into the extent of injuries, required treatment, and long-term impact on your quality of life. Often, truck accidents can leave victims with a wide range of severe and even catastrophic injuries. Expert witnesses can range from your primary care doctor to surgeons, radiologists, or any other medical professional. They can help to stress how these injuries have directly impacted your life. Additionally, they can boost your compensation claims regarding long-term medical needs and future costs.
Financial Experts
In any case, there is a claim for the financial losses suffered by the affected individual. With the severity of truck accidents, those costs can be more than regular car accident cases. However, you will need an expert opinion to calculate these costs and future expenses to get the desired compensation.
Financial experts calculate economic losses, including property damage costs, diminished earning capacity, and lost wages. Whether you need an accountant, economist, or financial analyst, they can use their expertise to provide a detailed analysis of the economic impact of the incident.
Accident Reconstruction Experts
If you were involved in a trucking accident, you will need evidence to support your claim. Fortunately, trucks are required to keep records and use data recorders to capture information. These devices can record the driver’s steering, GPS, braking, acceleration, and other behaviors.
While this data is valuable, you will want to have an expert witness who knows about these systems and components of the truck. With their help, they will analyze and present this information in an effective manner that helps to build a stronger case in your favor. They recreate the sequence of events leading to the accident. Along with that, they will look at factors like road conditions, impact forces, and vehicle dynamics to see what played a role in causing the accident.
Trucking Industry Experts
These professionals have in-depth industry knowledge, including regulations, safety practices, and operational standards. They can testify about industry-specific rules and guidelines for truck drivers and companies. Their insights can help establish whether rules were followed or violated in your case. These professionals can also provide context on the current maintenance protocols, driver training, and safety regulations in the industry.
Mechanics and Vehicle Experts
While not always at the top of the list of expert witnesses, these professionals can be valuable witnesses in truck accident cases. They can assess whether there were mechanical defects, faulty parts, or maintenance issues. These individuals can be helpful in cases where the manufacturer or another third party may be at fault. By showing a defect in the vehicle, your legal team can correlate that with the accident.
Choosing an Expert Witness
Expert witnesses are often called upon to provide testimony in court. Their opinions and expertise can have a major impact on the outcome of the case. For that reason, consider their qualifications, experience, and reputation before using them in your case.
The right expert witness should have a full understanding of the subject matter at hand. Along with that, they need to have the ability to communicate complex ideas in a clear and concise manner. They should also have a solid track record of success in similar cases.
Expert witnesses can often strengthen a case and improve your chance of receiving fair compensation. If you’re dealing with a truck accident, always reach out to an experienced trucking accident lawyer who can provide you with options for your legal claim.
