How Expert Witnesses Help Your Truck Accident Case

When you are involved in a truck accident in Mississippi, there are usually eyewitnesses who are brought in to give their statements. An eyewitness is usually a bystander, driver, or passenger who saw the accident occur.

But your attorney may also seek the help of an expert witness: a professional who has experience, knowledge, and training in a field related to the accident. Expert witnesses who are hired for truck accident cases provide insight into what the trucking industry entails, as well as how well government regulations are being followed. In addition, these witnesses are equipped with the knowledge, experience, and training to explain what exactly happened during your truck accident and what type of losses you now face due to your accident. As such, they are actually very helpful when it comes to proving fault and winning your truck accident case.

The most common types of expert witnesses hired for truck accident cases

Many different professionals can be hired to provide a statement for a truck accident case, including:

• Doctors, physicians, and nurses
• Counselors and psychologists
• Physical therapists
• Auto and truck mechanics
• Truck regulators and investigators
• Police officers
• Accountants
• Accident reconstruction professionals
• Pathologists
• Engineers
• Road design professionals

Your truck accident lawyer will analyze the facts and circumstances of your case to determine the right type of expert witness needed. This is very important because it could affect the outcome of your case tremendously.

Four ways an expert witness can help your truck accident case

While there are a variety of ways that an expert witness can help your truck accident case, here are four of the most common:

1.     Expert witnesses can explain and provide evidence of your injuries.

Healthcare providers, such as doctors and physicians, are typically hired as expert witnesses to explain and provide evidence of your injuries. For example, if you suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) during a truck accident, the expert witness would go over how exactly this injury occurred, the medical treatment plans you are undergoing, and how long it may take for you to fully heal and recover.

2.     Expert witnesses can go over the medical bills and financial costs of your truck accident.

Accountants and other financial professionals have the ability to serve as expert witnesses to go over your medical bills and the financial impacts of your truck accident. They can explain how much money you will need to make a full physical recovery as well as how much money you have lost in income, benefits, and wages from being out of work. This is very important, as a judge or jury may not be able to understand the extent of your medical bills, property damage expenses, loss of income, rehabilitation costs, and more.

3.     Expert witnesses have the ability to identify and point out any truck or equipment defects that may have caused your accident.

Truck or auto mechanics may be selected as expert witnesses to identify and point out any truck or equipment defects that may have caused your accident. Most people do not know much about large commercial trucks. Therefore, having an expert witness who has experience as a mechanic can benefit your truck accident case tremendously. They will not only explain what faulty equipment contributed to the accident, but they may also notice other types of negligence that played a role in your accident.

4.     Expert witnesses can reveal any regulations or laws that were violated during your truck accident.

Truck regulators and investigators spend their professional time focusing on safety within the trucking industry. These professionals look at the cargo, weight, training, maintenance, hours of service, and more. They have the ability to reveal any regulations or laws that were violated during your truck accident.

How to know if an expert witness is good for your case

Your attorney will look at various expert witnesses to determine who is good for your case. Some of the qualities that these individuals may possess include:

• Clear and effective communication skills: Expert witnesses are hired to inform and educate the jurors. Therefore, they must have clear and effective communication that will help individuals understand what happened during your truck accident. They should not mumble, talk softly, speak too quickly, or struggle to get the necessary information out when giving their statements.
• Confidence: Confidence is one of the most important qualities that an expert witness can have. The reason for this is because it is their job to inform and persuade a jury about the facts related to a truck accident. That said, they should appear to be confident in their statements.
• Honesty: Jurors are looking at whether a witness is lying or seems dishonest. Therefore, it is critical that expert witnesses show that they are honest and trustworthy when giving their statements. If they do not possess this quality, it can be difficult to convince a jury about the facts of your case.
• Ability to remain neutral: An expert witness must be able to remain neutral. It is not their responsibility to give their opinion about your case. Instead, they are supposed to be unbiased when providing the facts of your case.
• Informative and knowledgeable: Expert witnesses who are informative and knowledgeable about truck accidents are good for your case. This shows that they know what they are talking about, and they have the experience and education to prove it.

Merkel & Cocke, P.A. has been assisting truck accident victims in Mississippi for over four decades. Our truck accident lawyers will help you pursue the compensation you are owed for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, and more. We will also help you determine what type of witnesses and resources may benefit your case. Call our office or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We are available in Jackson, Clarksdale, Greenville, and Oxford.