If you sustain severe injuries in a collision with a commercial truck in North Carolina, your lawyer may hire a trucking accident reconstruction specialist to investigate the crash and help prove the truck driver’s or trucking company’s fault. Reconstruction specialists analyze various types of truck crash data to evaluate how a crash most likely occurred. Your lawyer can use the findings and testimony of the reconstruction expert to develop a compelling case for fair compensation for your injuries.
What Is Accident Reconstruction and Why Does It Matter in Truck Crash Cases?
Crash reconstruction is the systematic process of analyzing evidence to determine factors contributing to an accident and identifying the at-fault parties. The reconstruction is performed by trained specialists with backgrounds in various fields, including engineering and computer modeling.
In many cases, accident reconstruction experts use physical evidence, accident scene photographs, witness statements, and electronic data from onboard event data recorders to create a 3D rendering of the events leading to the accident. The reconstruction shows the speeds the vehicles were traveling and the angle of impact that resulted in the damage and injuries involved.
Vehicle accident reconstruction is especially important in truck accident cases because multiple parties may share liability. Human factors such as distracted driving or dangerous fatigue may cause a crash, while mechanical issues like brake failure or tire blowouts may cause a driver to lose control. Reconstruction helps identify the precise cause of the crash so responsible parties can be held financially liable.
How Reconstructionists Analyze Truck Crash Evidence
Commercial vehicle accident reconstruction involves collecting and analyzing a wide range of evidence. Electronic data may show vehicle speeds, travel direction, braking attempts, and the angle of impact. This data may also reveal wear and tear on vehicle components, especially when a mechanical failure contributed to the collision.
Reconstruction specialists apply calculations to determine how crashes likely occurred under similar conditions. For example, a reconstructionist may evaluate vehicle damage photos, weather conditions, skid mark measurements, and speed data recorded by the truck’s onboard computer just before impact. Evidence showing the driver failed to brake or evade the collision may indicate distraction or fatigue, especially when combined with maintenance records confirming the truck was mechanically sound.
Key Evidence, Technologies, and Methods Used in Truck Crash Reconstruction
Accident reconstruction specialists commonly analyze the following evidence after a truck collision:
- Traffic, surveillance, and dashboard camera footage
- Police accident reports
- Truck maintenance and inspection records
- Truck black box data, including speed, steering, and braking inputs
- Weather and roadway conditions at the time of the crash
Specialized software is used to calculate impact force, angle of collision, component stress limits, and the effects of road conditions. Photogrammetry preserves accurate measurements of vehicle damage. Due to their size and weight, tractor-trailers typically generate far greater impact forces than passenger vehicles.
Reconstruction experts may also use 3D modeling software to create visual simulations of the crash. These visuals are often critical in helping jurors understand how the accident occurred if the case goes to trial.
How Reconstruction Strengthens Your Legal Case
Truck accident lawyers rely on reconstruction experts because their analysis can significantly strengthen injury claims. Expert testimony may come from medical professionals, automotive safety experts, or reconstructionists who explain how the crash occurred and why safety rules were violated.
The goal of expert testimony is to add clarity and credibility to your claim. Reconstruction evidence helps attorneys challenge inaccurate or misleading statements made by the at-fault party.
For example, a truck driver may claim you caused a rear-end collision by braking suddenly. However, black box data may reveal that the truck was speeding or following too closely and that the driver failed to slow down when traffic conditions changed.
How Hardison & Cochran | Injury & Workers Comp Lawyers Use Expert Reconstruction
Hardison & Cochran | Injury & Workers Comp Lawyers work closely with accident reconstruction specialists to analyze evidence and build strong truck accident cases. Our goal is to pursue maximum compensation for our clients.
Our attorneys collaborate with trusted experts who use advanced technology to clearly demonstrate how collisions occur, including complex truck accident cases where liability is disputed.
Truck accident causes are not always obvious. Without expert analysis, it may be impossible to determine whether distraction, fatigue, or mechanical failure played a role. Accident reconstruction allows our attorneys to identify the cause and hold the appropriate party accountable.
Contact Our North Carolina Truck Accident Attorneys Today
For more than 40 years, Hardison & Cochran | Injury & Workers Comp Lawyers has helped North Carolina truck accident victims pursue the compensation they need to rebuild their lives. Former clients have shared feedback like the following:
“Thanks for all your help, Carter Whittington. I couldn’t have gone this far alone. You were knowledgeable, understanding, and professional throughout the process. Law firms like yours truly make a difference.” – T.M.
Our firm has recovered millions for injured clients, including $675,000 for the wife of a motorcyclist killed in a truck accident and $650,000 for a man injured when a dump truck ran a red light.
If you were injured in a North Carolina truck accident, contact Hardison & Cochran today for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
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