How an Expert Witness Strengthens Your Personal Injury Case

Personal injury cases often involve complex medical or scientific facts that the average person cannot analyze on their own. When your personal injury claim goes to trial, an expert witness might be brought in to provide greater credibility to your claim. The testimony given by the expert during litigation can mean the difference between case dismissal and case victory. The right expert witness can be a major asset for your personal injury claim as they have the knowledge that is necessary to explain the evidence and substantiate the injuries.

Having the right expert witnesses can be one of the most important aspects to building a strong personal injury case.

What Is An Expert Witness

An expert witness is a professional who possesses a form of specialized training, knowledge, education, or experience about a specific subject matter. The expert may be called to present his/her expert opinion even though they were not a witness to any occurrence relating to the lawsuit or criminal case.

An expert witness testimony is especially helpful in cases where there were no eyewitnesses present at the scene. Experts will be able to conclude how an accident occurred and how it caused someone injuries.

Which Type of Expert Witness Do You Need For Your Personal Injury Case?

Depending on the nature of your personal injury case, your attorney may advise you to use an expert witness with a specific specialty or knowledge. The specific type of accident and injuries you suffer will determine the type of expert witnesses needed.

Below are some of the most common types of expert witnesses we use for personal injury cases:

• Economists and Vocational Experts
  If your injuries require you to miss time from work, you may be entitled to wage loss compensation. An economist may be helpful in determining lost wages and future loss of income. A vocational expert could be used to verify the damaged earnings capacity or inability to hold the same job as a result of the injury.
• Law Enforcement
  Law enforcement professionals are highly qualified to provide counsel, prepare legal documentation and serve as expert witnesses on cases regarding the actions of police, sheriffs, and law enforcement agents, as well as prison authorities. Law Enforcement experts are available to testify about arrests, search and seizure, policies and procedures, excessive use of force, wrongful shooting and other specifics regarding laws and procedures.
• Accident Reconstructionists
  When liability is in question in an accident case, an accident reconstructionist can help identify how an accident happened and who was at fault. Accident reconstructionists approach an accident from a purely scientific perspective. This can allow them to calculate the speed and direction at which a vehicle was traveling, where the vehicle was located and what the vehicle’s momentum and stopping distance was.
• Department of Transportation Specialist
  This specialist has knowledge about roadway issues that could have caused your automobile accident. This expert testimony will assist your attorney in proving that the county, city, or state was liable for your accident.
• Healthcare Providers
  Healthcare providers can verify and explain the cause and extent of the victim’s medical conditions following an accident. They also prove very helpful in explaining permanent injuries and future procedures or surgeries that will be necessary.
• Commercial Trucking Accident Experts
  In personal injury cases involving commercial trucks, a wide variety of special circumstances need to be considered. Since the regulations surrounding the trucking industry differ so much from typical motor vehicles, experts in these areas often need to be consulted.

What Makes a Good Expert Witness?

Although many factors play into an expert’s effectiveness, you want to find a witness who has the credentials and expertise to be credible to the judge, jury, and opposing counsel. You also want an expert who will be able to clearly communicate opinions to the finder of fact, and who can make complex technical subjects and jargon understandable to people who may have little or no prior exposure to the expert’s area of expertise or its terminology.

How Do I Find an Expert Witness?

The expert team at Duque Law has developed relationships with experts in a variety of fields. Upon reviewing your personal injury claim, we may suggest utilizing an expert to provide testimony to strengthen your case. If an expert is necessary, our attorneys will arrange for them to provide testimony for your personal injury case.

If you or a loved one is involved in a potential personal injury lawsuit, please contact our Personal Injury Attorneys at 1-877-241-9554 to learn more about your legal options. A free consultation is just a phone call away.