Question 1

How do I retain Bill for a case?

Accepted Answer

Send case materials by email to Bill@collinstransportation.com or call 651-442-6363 to arrange a video consultation. Bill reviews every inquiry personally. If the case is a fit, he will explain his approach, what records the analysis needs, and his rates before you commit to retention.

Question 2

Do you work plaintiff or defense?

Accepted Answer

Both. Bill's opinions are based on what the records show and what the FMCSA regulations require, not on the theory the retaining attorney is advancing. That independence is what makes his testimony credible when opposing counsel challenges it.

Question 3

What does the initial case review involve?

Accepted Answer

A video consultation with Bill. He reviews the submitted materials personally, gives a direct read on whether the regulatory theory holds, identifies what additional records would strengthen the analysis, and quotes his rates. There is no obligation to retain and every conversation is confidential.

Question 4

What are your fees?

Accepted Answer

Bill charges hourly rates for case review, report preparation, deposition, and trial testimony, with different rates for each activity. Travel and expenses are billed at cost. Specific rates and a written engagement letter are provided during the initial consultation. Retainer terms are set case by case.

Question 5

What is your retention and turnaround time?

Accepted Answer

Bill reviews new inquiries personally. Case review turnaround depends on the volume of records and the case timeline. Report preparation is scheduled around discovery deadlines discussed at retention. Deposition and trial dates are calendared as soon as they are set.

Question 6

Where are you available to work?

Accepted Answer

Bill is based in West St. Paul, Minnesota. He is available to travel for depositions, site visits, and trial testimony throughout the Midwest (MN, WI, IA, IL, MO, ND, SD, NE, KS) and Southwest (TX, OK, NM, AZ, CO, UT, NV). Remote case review, consultation, and video deposition are available for attorneys in any location.

Question 7

Have you been qualified as an expert and deposed?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Bill has been retained and provided testimony in multiple commercial vehicle litigation matters. His background of over 50 years of class A driving, 28 years as an FMCSA instructor, and fleet management experience has withstood Daubert scrutiny and cross-examination. His CV is available upon request.

Question 8

What types of cases do you handle?

Accepted Answer

Fatigue and Hours of Service cases, logbook and ELD falsification, carrier liability, FMCSA regulatory violations, and driver qualification failures. Many commercial vehicle matters involve overlapping issues across more than one category. If you are unsure whether your case fits, submit it and Bill will tell you directly what the analysis can and cannot support.

Question 9

What records should I send for the initial review?

Accepted Answer

Whatever you have. A complaint or case summary is helpful. Common records include ELD data and edit history, driver logs, driver qualification file, dispatch records, GPS and telematics, fuel receipts, shipper and receiver check-in logs, maintenance and inspection records, and the police crash report. Bill will identify additional records that would strengthen the analysis after the initial review.

Question 10

What happens if the records do not support the case theory?

Accepted Answer

Bill says so, and he says so early. His practice of declining involvement when the evidence does not support a defensible opinion is part of what makes his analysis credible when he does engage. Attorneys learn before committing resources to expert work, not after.

Question 11

Is an expert witness necessary in a truck accident case?

Accepted Answer

In most commercial vehicle cases, yes. Jurors and judges are familiar with passenger car driving, not with Hours of Service limits, ELD edit history, driver qualification files, or the dispatch decisions behind a run. A truck accident expert witness connects the records to the specific federal requirement that applies and explains why the gap matters. Cases with straightforward liability and no regulatory dispute sometimes do not need one, and Bill will say so during the initial review.

Question 12

What is an hours of service violation?

Accepted Answer

An hours of service violation occurs when a driver operates beyond the limits set in 49 CFR Part 395. The core limits are 11 hours of driving, a 14 hour on-duty window, a required 30 minute break, 10 consecutive hours off duty, and the 60 or 70 hour weekly limits. Violations are proven by comparing the ELD duty status record against fuel receipts, GPS data, toll records, dispatch messages, and shipper check-in times rather than by reading the log alone.

Question 13

What causes truck driver fatigue in litigation cases?

Accepted Answer

Fatigue is rarely a single decision by a driver. It usually traces back to schedules built without room for legal rest, detention time at shippers that consumes the on-duty window, split or interrupted rest periods, night driving against circadian lows, and pressure from dispatch to keep a delivery appointment. The analysis looks at what the carrier scheduled and what the supporting records show was actually happening during claimed off-duty time.

Question 14

What are FMCSA violations in a commercial vehicle case?

Accepted Answer

FMCSA violations are failures to comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, 49 CFR Parts 350 through 399. The parts that appear most often in litigation are Part 391 for driver qualification, Part 392 for driving of commercial motor vehicles, Part 395 for hours of service and ELD requirements, and Part 396 for inspection, repair, and maintenance. Identifying the rule is only the starting point. The analysis has to show what the records prove about compliance and how that failure connects to the crash.

Question 15

How much does a trucking expert witness cost?

Accepted Answer

Costs depend on the volume of records, the depth of analysis, and whether the case reaches deposition or trial. Bill bills hourly at separate rates for case review, report preparation, deposition, and trial testimony, with travel and expenses at cost. Many cases resolve with review and a written report only. Specific rates and a written engagement letter are provided during the initial consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question not answered here?