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The Importance of Expert Witnesses in Truck Accident Cases

By Attorney James Whalen | Published on September 7, 2024

A truck accident case requires proof of negligence. Your truck accident lawyer must utilize evidence and resources that meet this requirement. Expert witnesses are one form of resources that aid civil lawyers with truck accident cases.

Expert witnesses play an essential role in complex truck accident cases. Their vast knowledge, research, experience, and expertise can profoundly impact the outcome of your personal injury lawsuit.

Learning more about the importance of expert witnesses can help you move forward, but your South Carolina truck accident attorney conducts the research and makes the selection, taking such a decision off your shoulders.

Types of Expert Witnesses in Truck Accident Cases

Expert witnesses range from software specialists to medical professionals.

The type of expert witnesses for your truck accident case may vary from those used in a similar case. Choosing the right expert witnesses is vital for conveying the cause, negligence, and resulting damages to a jury.

An expert witness in a truck accident case may come from one or more of the following professions:

  • Medical experts: Perhaps the most frequently called experts in civil lawsuits
  • Trucking industry experts: Regarding malfunctioning data recorders, brakes, or other safety failures
  • Vocational experts: To address economic damages relating to a victim’s lost earning capacity and ability to work.

These are just a few examples of the types of expert witnesses possible in a truck accident trial. Your trial may include a medical expert to address your injuries and a trucking industry expert to explain what caused them.

A civil trial is sometimes necessary for holding all liable parties responsible for your harm accountable for their actions. After carefully reviewing all evidence, a truck accident attorney determines what type of expert is best for your case. Expert witnesses have a place in both personal injury and wrongful death trials. As outside parties, they bring an unbiased yet professional opinion and view of negligent truck accidents.

How Expert Witnesses Help Your Case

Complex subjects are better understood with an expert witness.

Court systems allow expert witnesses because such witnesses typically assist a judge or jury make decisions. While their testimony is only one part of a trial, their information contributes to the totality of the case. Expert witnesses bring a wealth of knowledge or proficiency in a particular field that helps juries better understand vital information. That understanding can significantly impact your chance of receiving compensation for your damages.

A truck accident case may require multiple expert witnesses, each expert bringing their expertise to specific details of your crash. An expert witness can help your case by:

  • Clarifying what specific evidence means
  • Explaining mechanical data or physical injuries
  • Providing professional opinions on complex matters that are beyond the scope of an average person’s knowledge.

Accident victims have no time to study the mechanics of a truck, commercial driver’s license requirements, or other information pertinent to their case. Most victims have no idea of what type of expert witness they need or how to contact one. An experienced South Carolina truck accident attorney can take these steps and more on your behalf. Their vast network of contacts gives them a starting point for identifying a qualified and respected expert witness.

If you suffered severe injuries or lost a close loved one due to a truck accident involving negligence, you need rest. Consider leaving your case to a professional truck accident attorney as soon as possible.

Choosing the Right Expert Witnesses

Truck accident attorneys know which witnesses are best for each case.

A truck accident attorney chooses the right expert witnesses for your case by researching those with specific knowledge in a particular field. Once your attorney identifies a possible expert, they must determine whether the expert is the best professional fit for your trial.

Attorneys look for the following traits when researching an expert witness:

  • Expertise: Education and training support their field of work.
  • Experience: Prior trial experience provides them with confidence.
  • Organized: They prepare for trial.
  • Consistency: Knowledge and testimony are consistent throughout multiple trials.

An expert’s past trial testimony at similar trials, as well as their credentials and references, contribute to an attorney’s decision. It is a critical decision and one that must include thorough research.

Once your attorney selects the right expert witnesses for your truck accident case, they must act quickly to secure them for your trial. Busy schedules and other trial commitments can prevent your attorney from securing a highly desired expert.

If you suffered severe injuries in a South Carolina truck accident, consider contacting an attorney today. The multiple steps required to build a strong civil case, including selecting expert witnesses, is a process that must begin as soon as possible.

Whalen Montalvo Attorneys at Law

We understand how the expert witness process works.

A South Carolina truck accident case is generally complex. A jury can quickly become confused and overwhelmed by intricate details regarding technologies, truck components, and driver behavior. Expert witnesses narrow down broad topics and convey pertinent information about your case. Such testimony can address why, how, when, and where by testifying about blood alcohol content (BAC) or GPS data.

An insurance company may hire their own expert witnesses for trial. At Whalen Montalvo Attorneys at Law, we hold all expert witnesses accountable by asking fair questions on direct or cross-examination.

Time is of the utmost importance, so schedule a free consultation without delay.  South Carolina law allows three years for civil action. The clock starts at the moment of injury or death.

We have a strong record of success for negligence victims. Entrust us with your truck accident case. Call Whalen Montalvo Attorneys at Law (864) 770-7710 for help today.

James M. Whalen

I grew up right here in Greenville, South Carolina. Following highschool, I attended Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, where I was an NCAA Scholar-Athlete for the Rhodes Lynx soccer program.

I completed my law degree at University of South Carolina School of Law, where I was on the mock trial team and an editor for the Journal of Law and Education. Following graduation, I served as a judicial law clerk for Senior Judge Robert H. Hodges, Jr. on the Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C. My experience in D.C. trial courts solidified my desire to become a trial lawyer.
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