Truck accident litigation often varies greatly from personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits that involve only smaller vehicles. The reasons for these differences are numerous, but one of the primary issues is the fact that truck accident litigation often crosses state lines. This means that state and federal law can inter-mingle, making these cases more complex. Further complicating matters is the speed with which a trucking company or its insurance carrier can have its own lawyers present at the scene of the truck accident. Contrast this to the fact that injured victims are rightfully focused on healing – or their surviving family members on grieving – and the last thing on their minds may be contacting a St. Louis truck accident attorney to pursue medical or pain and suffering compensation.
Missouri and Illinois residents who have been victims of a truck accident, or who have tragically lost loved ones in such a crash, may wish to consider contacting a personal injury or wrongful death attorney as soon as possible in order to take important steps to strengthen any case they might have. The sooner that critical evidence can be preserved, the better – and an attorney experienced in trying trucking accident cases will understand which steps can be the most important in preserving key evidence. They also have knowledge that can be helpful when it comes to selecting experts to assist in preparing truck accident lawsuits for trial.
Selection of experts key component of truck accident litigation
In fact, selecting a trucking expert can be crucial in developing this type of case and making it as strong as possible. A good trucking expert should have significant amounts of driving experience paired with an excellent understanding of applicable federal motor carrier safety regulations (FMCSR). Additionally, this type of expert should also have knowledge of state laws and the types of safety policies that trucking companies should have in place. Considering that these truck accident cases often cross over state lines, this makes it particularly important for the chosen trucking expert to be able to analyze the various regulations that could apply.
Trucking experts will likely need to testify on a variety of factors in the event that a case goes to trial. This can run the gamut from establishing which types of laws apply to what steps a reasonable driver could and should have taken given a certain set of facts. In some cases, it may be necessary to hire more than one expert; for instance, one who is focused on trucking safety and another focused on driver training. Additionally, an accident reconstructionist can help set out the scene and mechanics leading up to the crash, and testify as to what sorts of evasive maneuvers a victim may have taken in an effort to avoid a collision.
Other experts will likely be needed as well; these to testify about the significance of any injuries suffered and the prognosis for the victim’s future physical and financial earning abilities. This can mean consulting with experts like trauma surgeons, orthopedists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, psychiatrists, and vocational rehabilitation specialists, just to name a few. The sooner that such medical experts are consulted, the better it may be for the case since this can provide valuable insight on some of the issues that a defense team might raise. It can also help when it comes time to calculate pain and suffering compensation that might be appropriate in some situations.
Truck accident litigation experts helpful in all stages of such cases
By selecting the right experts experienced in this type of litigation, a victim or surviving family members can help strengthen the case as it moves forward. While the immediate focus following a truck crash is on healing and moving forward, it can also be critical to consider hiring a St. Louis personal injury or wrongful death attorney to pursue trucking accident litigation. A successful claim can result in monetary awards to cover medical expenses and other related costs and may even include pain and suffering compensation.
I have been practicing as a trial and St. Louis personal injury attorney for over two decades. Please contact my law firm today at 888-586-7041 in order to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your truck accident litigation case. My firm only earns fees if we succeed at gaining compensation for you through either settlement or by trying the case, and we will be completely honest on whether or not we believe we can help you.
Disclaimer: The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.