What Role Do Experts Play in a Personal Injury Case?
Expert witnesses are important in personal injury lawsuits because they give specialized information and views that can aid in determining responsibility and damages. Not all expert witnesses, however, are made equal, and selecting the correct one may make or break your case. Get a legal consultation today to learn more.
What is an expert witness?
In a personal injury lawsuit, an expert witness is a specialist with specialized knowledge, training, and experience in a subject relating to the injury or accident. They are called upon to testify in a judicial procedure to assist the court in understanding the facts and problems of the case.
An expert witness’s responsibility is to give unbiased and objective opinions based on their knowledge and experience. Your attorney, for example, may summon a medical expert witness to testify about the type and degree of your injuries, suitable treatment, and recovery prognosis.
Types of expert witnesses
In a personal injury case, several types of expert witnesses may be summoned to testify, including:
- Medical professionals and physicians
Medical experts are relied upon to deliver testimony in personal injury claims involving medical malpractice or injuries caused by carelessness. These experts can assist the court in understanding the type and degree of your injuries, the quality of care that should have been provided, and the long-term effects of the injuries.
- Mental health experts
Mental health specialists can testify in personal injury lawsuits involving emotional distress or mental health difficulties. These specialists can assist the court in understanding your mental health and the accident’s impact on your emotional well-being.
- Accident reconstructionists
Reconstruction specialists can assist the court in determining what caused an accident and who was responsible. They employ a variety of approaches to produce an accurate and complete narrative of what happened, such as evaluating physical evidence and recreating the accident site.
- Engineering experts
Engineering experts testify in personal injury lawsuits involving product responsibility or structural problems. These experts can assist the court in understanding the technical details of the case and provide an opinion on whether a product or structure was designed or built safely.
- Financial specialists and actuaries
Actuaries and financial professionals testify in personal injury trials involving lost income or other monetary losses. These experts assist the court in determining the proper amount of compensation by analyzing the economic consequences of the damage.
- Vocational experts
Vocational specialists can testify in personal injury claims involving long-term or permanent impairments that impair your capacity to work. They assist the court in understanding your earning potential as well as the impact of the injury on your future employment aspirations.
