Expert Witness

Not every dispute between two parties can be resolved and this can lead to legal action being taken. In many cases, an expert witness (also known as a forensic expert) may be called upon who can give evidence based on their expertise in a particular field to support the case of either party. Court proceedings require expert reports in order to gain the specialised knowledge that is needed to ensure that all facets of a case are addressed and that the law can be correctly upheld. An expert's duty is to present unbiased factual evidence and some opinion evidence when admissible in accordance with the expert witness rules.

We at BTT Engineering have a wealth of experience in the automotive design, compliance and certification industry, which allows us to bring real value to expert witness reporting. We have specialist knowledge with vehicles including trailers. This allows us to bring information with matters relevant to the case at hand in some of the most complex cases. Court proceedings require expert reports in order to gain the specialised knowledge that is needed to ensure that all facets of a case are addressed. With this we are able to bring expert evidence to the case which will ensure that your legal representatives have the information necessary to support your case.

Our expert witness services

BTT Engineering's particular area of expertise lies as an automotive expert witness through our aforementioned background in vehicle and trailer design and certification. We have also been appointed for expert advice in cases involving machinery failure and damage.

Vehicle compliance and safety

BTT Engineering's team of expert witnesses have extensive knowledge of Australian Design Rules (ADRs), vehicle modification codes for light and heavy vehicles such as Vehicle Standards Bulletins (VSBs) and numerous other state and federal legislation. This enables us to review any complaints made in a comprehensive manner and prepare findings in relation to any non-conformance. Some examples of claims we have assisted with previously include illegal vehicle modifications being performed and unsafe or improper design for vehicles or trailers.

Insurance claims

BTT has been regularly relied on by insurance companies and other parties seeking insurance claims to provide evidence supporting the acceptance or denial of a claim. Insurance companies choosing to rely on an expert witness report from BTT Engineering can be assured that BTT can complete assessments and prepare reports in a timely manner as required by the claim to a high level of detail.

Crash investigation

BTT Engineering through our managing director Edward van den Berg have completed crash investigation training offered through the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), demonstrating our knowledge of contributing factors of a collision. We have been appointed previously to investigate cases of vehicle or trailer rollover along with determining an at fault party in a vehicle collision. We have also investigated instances where a machine has been damaged in operation to determine the nature of the collision and whether this act was abnormal in relation to the machine's intended purpose.

Engineering expertise

Engineering expertise

With numerous qualified engineers in our team we are well positioned to review test reports and calculations as necessary to determine the accuracy of these results in case of a dispute. BTT can provide our own independent calculations and testing backed by our registration as a federally approved test facility which demonstrates our commitment to quality results. We are able to use practical and theoretical knowledge to determine causes of failure and what, if any, methods of repair are suitable.

 
Weight or product disputes

Weight or product disputes

With more and more owners or equipment becoming aware of their rights we have been able to advocate for clients with vehicles or trailers that fail to deliver on the advertised specifications, with an example of this being overweight caravan and motorhome cases. BTT has also been appointed in cases where suggestions of generally faulty manufacture have been made which require an expert's field of knowledge.

 

Our expert witness process

Initial consultation

Initial consultation

When engaging BTT Engineering to assist you with your expert witness requirements we will need you to provide us with all the information that you have including video recordings, other witnesses reports and any other evidence that you may feel will assist us with our investigations and report writing. Once we have the information we can let you know if we can work on a desktop review or if we would need to inspect the vehicle/machinery in order to gain the information that we need. The more information that you can give us will ensure our expert opinion is as accurate and complete as possible.

Collaboration with legal teams

BTT has worked in conjunction with numerous legal teams in order to provide a professional experience for any party involved in a dispute. BTT is comfortable in taking any received instructions from legal representatives and preparing a report which allows the legal team to identify areas of interest of a claim and tailor their case as necessary. We are comfortable to work both directly for clients or for legal firms to deliver a satisfactory outcome for all parties involved.

Why choose us for expert witness services?

BTT Engineering's team has a wide range of qualifications and expertise, including team members qualified to certify vehicles and perform engineering work in a number of states and jurisdictions, team members with practical trade-based and technical computational expertise along with contacts throughout the automotive industry to support our work. This unique range of expertise allows us as a collective to advise on a number of aspects within a litigation claim ranging from acting as an automotive expert witness to providing reports on machinery failure.

BTT Engineering's expert witness work to date has been highlighted by the comprehensive detail in the material produced which has been relied upon in trial to decide a hearing in our client's favour. BTT has an excellent reputation for being impartial (which the court expects) ensuring that any person or organisation supported by expert witnesses from BTT has strong support for their case and is not given false hope of a favourable outcome. As a result we are happy to act on behalf of the litigating party or the defending party with with confidence that the other parties agree with our findings.

Our team is dedicated to ensuring that clients are treated with respect and can rely on us through all levels of proceedings, ranging from helping to act in the local civil court all the way to the federal court if required. We are happy to travel anywhere in Australia to conduct expert witness work and are flexible in helping meet a client's needs.

How much do expert witness services cost?

An expert witness service cost is proportional to the amount of time required for a case and any testing or analysis required to support a claim, therefore the cost of each case will vary.

 

Need help with expert witness services? Contact us for an obligation free quote

If you need an expert witness to provide evidence and an expert witness report to the highest level then please provide our details to your lawyers or give us a call directly. We will be able to provide our opinion on how we may be able to assist with reports that are in depth and cover the information that you are looking for. As well as providing reports, we are equally comfortable as a witness in court to bolster our opinions and work through a thorough cross examination. Remember, we are highly qualified experts in the automotive industry with in excess of 30 years experience individually.