The trucking industry is a vital component of the American economy. Each day, commercial trucks carry valuable supplies, including food, industrial products, petroleum, and livestock across America. Without a robust commercial vehicle transport and delivery system, our country would come to a halt.
While most commercial vehicle trips take place without incident, accidents do happen quite frequently. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association, there were more than 180,000 crashes involving large trucks or buses in 2022. These truck accidents resulted in 87,917 injuries and 5,511 fatalities. The rate of death and serious injuries in commercial vehicle crashes is higher than in accidents involving passenger vehicles. The reasons for this should be somewhat obvious. Commercial vehicles are massive, heavy machines weighing up to 80,000 when fully loaded with cargo. By contrast, most passenger cars weigh 5,000 pounds or less. The sheer force and power of a commercial vehicle crash make it more likely that the accident will result in serious or fatal injuries.
When you or a family member have been hurt in a truck accident, you likely have questions regarding your legal rights. Fatal truck accidents are particularly devastating because they result in the loss of a loved one. Having a caring and compassionate nationwide truck accident attorney by your side is vital to making sure that you receive the compensation that you deserve. In addition to your attorney, fatal truck accident cases usually feature the involvement of one or more experts. These experts are crucial to resolving the case in your favor.
Below we will take a look at some ways in which an expert witness can help in fatal truck accident litigation.
Deciding who is at fault for the accident is the first step in the legal process. Fault, or negligence, is the foundation of every truck accident injury claim. Fault is often disputed, and, in cases of multi-vehicle accidents, it may be extremely difficult to determine exactly how the crash happened.
In these instances, an expert witness may be hired to reconstruct the crash. A crash reconstructionist comes from a technical field, such as physics or engineering. An expert in this area will take all of the data from the crash and will help to determine how it took place. Using principles of math and science, an expert crash reconstructionist helps to create a clear picture of the moments leading up to the crash and the crash itself. This can be extremely valuable in cases where fault is a major issue.
Fatal truck accident cases naturally involve serious injuries. Some truckers or trucking companies may even dispute the actual cause of the victim’s death. In these cases, it is necessary to hire an expert medical witness to help with your case. An expert medical witness is a doctor or some other specialized individual in the medical field. Your medical witness can explain the injuries suffered in the accident and how they would have affected the victim. In cases where the cause of death might be an issue, a medical expert can give an opinion on that subject as well. Medical terms are often technical and complicated. A medical expert witness can help break down some of the jargon into a manner that the jury understands.
Expert witnesses also play a key role in establishing economic losses. A fatal truck accident can cause tremendous losses and suffering. One of the ways that these crashes affect victims is through a loss of earnings. Sometimes, the victim is the sole or primary provider for their family. When a fatal accident occurs, the family loses that source of income and can suffer extreme financial hardship.
An expert economic witness helps to establish the impact of lost income. The expert can quantify losses over a period of time. Putting concrete numbers on a claim gives the jury an opportunity to simply award a specific amount rather than having to guess what the claim might be worth.
Not every truck accident is the result of driver negligence. Sometimes components such as brakes, axles, tires, and other equipment experience massive and catastrophic failures. As a result of these failures, a serious or fatal truck accident can occur. Explaining how and why these failures happen may require specialized scientific knowledge.
A skilled expert is able to look at all of the factors surrounding an accident. In the case of an equipment or technical failure, the expert can pinpoint the cause. After identifying the cause, an expert is able to explain exactly how it occurred in a coherent and persuasive manner.
Serious truck crash cases require a clear and coherent presentation. Fatal crash cases are often highly contested by truck drivers and insurance companies. These defendants have attorneys working hard to help them win the case. In order to ensure your best chance of success, having a highly credentialed and respected expert is often necessary. An expert explains your case to the jury in a way that makes sense. These explanations can be the difference in helping you achieve the compensation that you deserve.
At Burg Simpson, our team of national truck crash lawyers can help when you have been affected by a truck accident anywhere in the country. We have a strong reputation for assisting family members who have suffered the tragic loss of a loved one. We know and understand the difficulties that you are facing during this time. Let us help you move forward and receive the compensation that you need and deserve.
We are standing by now to take your call. Our consultations are always free for all potential and prospective clients. When you need a tough and reliable law firm to help protect your legal rights, you can count on us. There is no fee until we obtain a recovery on your behalf. To schedule your appointment to speak with one of our lawyers, please reach out to us using our online intake form or give us a call at (866) 695-1236.
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