Accident Reconstructionist in Trucking Accident Cases

The damage left behind after a truck accident can be catastrophic, leaving everyone in a daze and unsure of what to do next. It’s not uncommon to see a truck accident cause multiple severe injuries, damage to public property, damage to cargo, and road closures. For victims to get full and fair compensation after a Columbia truck collision, they have to prove their losses and the other party’s role in what they have suffered.

That’s why your truck accident lawyer may bring in an accident reconstruction expert. Learn more about their role in a personal injury claim, and when you’re ready for more personalized guidance, call Peake & Fowler at 803-788-4370.

Providing Clarity and Answers

One of the main benefits of an accident reconstruction expert is their ability to provide clarity and answers to victims and other people involved. Car accidents on their own are hard to understand—but when a tractor-trailer is involved, it becomes infinitely more complex. Few people understand the physics of a tractor-trailer, the massive amount of weight involved, and how a tractor-trailer acts under certain forces. This makes it difficult for insurance adjusters and others to understand how accidents occur. Accident reconstruction experts can step in, explain things in layman’s terms, and make it far easier to comprehend.

Victims of accidents are often left with questions. These questions can make it difficult to move on from the collision and heal. Outside of the assistance experts provide in personal injury claims, they can also help victims begin the healing process.

Skilled Evidence Analysis

Truck accidents create an enormous amount of evidence. They leave skid marks, debris, spilled cargo, and damaged vehicles behind. Just taking in this evidence visually can be overwhelming; trying to piece it together can be even more challenging. Accident reconstructionists with experience in truck accident cases know how to categorize and analyze evidence, putting it together in a way that explains what happened.

A number of factors come into play when reconstructionists analyze evidence. They may look at vehicle dynamics to understand how the truck and other vehicles moved during the accident and why they ultimately landed where they did. The expert may also look into the road conditions to determine if road design, weather, and other factors contributed to or even caused the crash. Finally, driver behavior is always an area of focus during these investigations. They may look into braking habits, steering patterns, and reaction times.

Proof of Liability and Fault

Proving liability is contentious; you’ll need strong, nearly irrefutable evidence to get the other party to accept fault. Accident reconstruction experts provide a neutral outside voice, using physical evidence to explain what happened and who erred in their judgment. This is far harder to dispute than both drivers’ stories and even eyewitness testimony.

For example, trucks are prone to equipment failures, due to how many miles they put on every day. Truck drivers often claim mechanical failures when they are involved in a crash. An accident reconstruction expert could look at the skid marks, the resting place of the vehicles, and the damage sustained by both vehicles. They could then look into the truck’s maintenance records, analyze the alleged faulty component, and explain whether or not a faulty component would lead to the damage seen in the crash.

Strong Testimony

If your case goes to court, you need to be able to convince a jury of the other party’s role in your losses. Accident reconstruction experts provide insight that can help you achieve that goal. Because they aren’t invested in the outcome of the case, they can clearly state the facts and answer questions based on evidence and experience. Furthermore, their ability to explain complex concepts and ideas can sway a jury who would otherwise be baffled by the physics and engineering of a tractor-trailer.

Plan Your Next Steps with Peake & Fowler

If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, you could be entitled to compensation—but it’s important to talk to an attorney about how to fight for that compensation. During your free consultation, we’ll learn more about your case and explain your options. Just contact us online or call us at 803-788-4370 to get started.