There are some cases where liability for the car accident is readily apparent. For example, if you have been struck by a car from behind, there is a legal presumption that the driver of the rear vehicle is to blame for the accident. However, there are other accidents where there may not be compelling physical evidence to prove fault. If that happens, your car accident lawyer may turn to an accident reconstruction expert to recreate what happened and help you prove liability.
You May Need an Accident Reconstruction Expert in Close Cases
Your best hope is that there are witnesses who can tell a clear story about who was to blame for the car accident. There may also be other physical evidence that can be used to prove liability. If you have been unable to gather it at the accident scene, hopefully, your car accident lawyer can readily obtain it in the days afterward.
There may be some intractable cases where each driver tells a different story about what happened to cause the car accident. For example, if you were involved in a crash at a stop sign or red light, the other driver may be saying that you are the one who failed to yield right away as required by law. Since you have the burden of proof to demonstrate liability for the accident, you must do something that can verify your story. If you are unable to do so, your claim may be denied. You may not be able to receive compensation for your car accident injuries.
How an Accident Reconstruction Expert Helps Your Case?
Your car accident attorney may work with certain expert witnesses to help prove your case when there are difficult facts. Reconstruction experts can give their opinions about what happened and who caused the accident. There are dedicated experts who do this for a living every single day.
An accident reconstruction expert will use principles of math and physics to reach their conclusion about what happened during the car accident. For example, an accident reconstruction expert may look at the damage on both cars and the angle at which the accident occurred, quantifying the speed and position of each vehicle at the time of the accident. They may visit the accident scene, accounting for the weather conditions during the crash and looking at things such as skid marks.
Some questions that an accident reconstruction expert may answer can include:
- Did one or both drivers attempt to stop?
- What speed were the drivers traveling at?
- What was the angle of the crash?
- Could one or both drivers have done something to prevent the accident?
Remember that an accident reconstruction expert offers their opinion. It is not a conclusive determination that will always persuade a jury or insurance company. The other driver may have their accident reconstruction expert. However, this is a helpful measure your lawyer may take if necessary.
An accident reconstruction expert can do their most effective work when the available evidence is available. Your car accident attorney may determine early in your case that they need additional help if they think you may have difficulty proving liability. However, some evidence that you may need to prove your claim can disappear quickly if you do not get legal help. Therefore, you should hire a car accident lawyer quickly after the crash to have the best chance of proving liability.
Contact the Towson Personal Injury Lawyers at Huesman, Jones & Miles, LLC
If you have been injured in a car crash, the Towson personal injury lawyers at Huesman, Jones & Miles, LLC can work to prove liability. You can call us today at 443-589-0150 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation. We have offices in Hunt Valley and Towson, Maryland, and we serve clients in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Bel Air, Bentley Springs, Columbia, Freeland, Hereford, Hampton, Westminster, Essex, Monkton, Sparks Glencoe, Parkton, Phoenix, Pikesville, White Hall, Carroll County, Harford County, and Howard County.
