Hardin County Trucking Accident: Are Expert Witnesses Needed in a Case?

A motor vehicle accident often leaves the victim with physical and emotional injuries as well as causes financial hardship. If the collision involved a tractor-trailer, the odds of suffering serious injuries are significantly increased because of the size and weight of the truck. Consequently, it becomes even more important for a victim to be fully and fairly compensated for the injuries suffered in the collision. To ensure that this occurs, expert witnesses may be needed.

Although motor vehicle accidents involving semi-trucks are the same as accidents involving only passenger vehicles in legal principal, the reality is that trucking accident cases present a number of challenges that accidents involving only passenger vehicles do not. In order to be entitled to compensation in a motor vehicle accident case you must prove that someone else’s negligence caused, or contributed to, the collision. It is not necessary to prove that the other party was 100 percent responsible for the accident; however, the defendant must have been more responsible than you were to recover damages. Therefore, the cause of a trucking accident is often contested. The insurance company for the trucking company will try to prove that someone other than the trucker was at fault in order to avoid liability for the damages caused by the accident. This is often where an expert witness becomes necessary for the plaintiff, or injured victim.

In some motor vehicle accidents it is abundantly clear to everyone involved how the accident happened; however, more often it is not quite that clear. If you are the victim in a Hardin County trucking accident and your contention is that the truck was responsible for the accident you may need an accident reconstruction expert to prove that you are right. An accident reconstructionist will study the scene of the accident as well as the vehicles involved and reconstruct how the collision occurred. It is very likely that the defendant will employ an expert who is willing to testify that the trucker was not at fault, or not entirely at fault, in the collision. To prevail at trial, therefore, it often becomes necessary for the victim to have an expert ready to testify that the truck driver did, in fact, cause the accident.

Experts typically charge by the hour for their services which is one reason why you should consult with a Hardin County trucking accident attorney who has the experience and resources to retain the services of an expert witness should one be needed in your case.