An expert witness can impact your personal injury case by testifying at trial to support your case’s facts. Different types of expert witnesses can offer professional insight to strengthen specific aspects of your case.
Our Atlanta personal injury lawyers are not afraid to enlist the aid of expert witnesses to strengthen your personal injury claim, so you can recover the financial compensation you deserve to cover all your losses.
What Is An Expert Witness?
An expert witness is a professional with specialized knowledge in their particular field. They offer unique insight into specific issues in a personal injury case that a judge or jury may not understand.
Because they are impartial witnesses to your case with no vested interest in the outcome, expert witness’ testimony can hold significant weight. If they agree with your side of the story, a judge or jury may be more likely to believe your claims and rule in your favor.
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What Role Do Expert Witnesses Play in Personal Injury Cases?
Eyewitnesses can offer pivotal evidence through their accounts of an accident. For example, a bystander who saw a car accident happen can explain which direction each vehicle was coming from or whether one of the vehicles ran a stop sign.
Expert witnesses may not have seen the accident first-hand, but they could offer expert testimony about other aspects of your case, including:
Liability
An expert witness can help establish liability for the accident and your injuries by providing a reconstruction of the accident, supplementing evidence, and explaining how this evidence proves the defendant is responsible.
Evaluating Damages
An expert witness can evaluate your economic and non-economic damages to determine how much compensation you deserve.
Clarifying Issues
The judge and the jury may not grasp specific details of the case. An expert witness can help these parties understand complex issues and details, helping them make educated decisions about the case.
Influencing Negotiations
Your personal injury attorney will negotiate with the negligent party and their insurance company to reach a fair settlement, but an expert witness can influence these negotiations by providing information on damages and liability.
What Are The Types Of Expert Witnesses?
Not every expert witness is the same. Each type of expert witness brings knowledge and clarity to specific aspects of a personal injury claim. Types of expert witnesses that may benefit your case include:
Accident Reconstructionists
One of the most common types of experts used in car accident cases is an accident reconstruction expert. These experts use their knowledge of physics, engineering, and how vehicles function to reconstruct the accident digitally and determine its cause.
They will likely speak with eyewitnesses, look for skid marks on the road at the accident scene, and examine the damage to all involved vehicles to determine exactly how the accident occurred.
Accident reconstruction can reveal details such as how fast each vehicle was traveling, at which angles the cars collided, and whether any dangerous road conditions or traffic violations may have contributed to the collision. This evidence can be crucial in determining how the accident happened and who is at fault.
Medical Experts
Seeking medical attention as soon as possible after an accident allows medical personnel to evaluate, diagnose, treat, and document your injuries. Medical experts such as doctors and nurses can provide expert witness testimony on your injuries and treatments and how they have affected your quality of life.
Medical professionals can also provide information about medical treatments you will likely need in the future to continue to treat a disabling injury, such as a spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury.
Because you cannot ask for more compensation later after you agree to a settlement or receive a judgment in court, you must receive enough compensation to cover all medical costs that will likely arise in the future because of the accident before concluding your case. A medical specialist can be invaluable in estimating these future costs, ensuring you receive fair compensation.
Toxicology Experts
In the case of a DUI-related accident, toxicology experts can provide testimony regarding the driver’s blood alcohol concentration and how it may have affected their ability to operate a motor vehicle.
Economic Experts
Economic experts are key to personal injury cases because they can assess the financial impact of your injuries, including current and future lost income, current and future medical bills, and expenses for long-term care and rehabilitation. They can also account for factors such as inflation and interest rates.
Mental Health Experts
Mental health experts such as therapists can testify to the emotional and mental damage you suffered because of the accident. Though subjective, your pain and suffering may qualify you for additional compensation.
Law Enforcement
Law enforcement officers can conduct forensic examinations, analyze accident scenes, interview witnesses, and review documents and photographs.
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How Can You Find An Expert Witness to Testify on Your Behalf?
Choosing the right expert witnesses to examine your case is crucial. Ideally, an expert should have the education and knowledge necessary to provide unique insight into the specific aspect of the case you are trying to prove. Depending on your unique needs, your personal injury attorney may look for an expert with:
- Education: An advanced degree such as a Master’s degree or a PhD in their field of study or another type of professional certification gives credibility to an expert witness.
- The ability to communicate effectively: The judge and jury must be able to understand what the expert is saying to avoid confusion and give your case credibility.
- Experience in the courtroom: An expert witness who has experience testifying in court and is familiar with legal processes and court procedures can help your case.
- Impartiality: Expert witnesses should be able to give unbiased opinions. Seeking help from a biased expert (such as your relative or friend) could potentially damage your case instead of aiding it.
Expert witnesses play a crucial role in personal injury cases, but your attorney will also work to gather other evidence, including police reports, photographs, video surveillance, witness statements, and medical records. A well-rounded case with a significant collection of evidence is most likely to succeed.
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Learn More About Expert Witnesses By Contacting Kaine Law Today
Kaine Law has over two decades of collective experience handling personal injury cases. We want to see you recover physically, emotionally, and financially. If we feel an expert witness can benefit your personal injury case, we will locate and hire the expert who gives you the best chance for success.
To learn more about how an expert witness can impact your personal injury case, or to request a free consultation, please contact us today.
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