Expert witnesses could prove to be invaluable to your personal injury case. Whether you’ve been attacked by a dog, hurt in a car accident, or suffered any other kind of injury due to someone else’s negligence, the testimony of an expert could very well sway a jury’s opinion in your favor. That expert might make the difference between winning and losing your case.
Sand Law attorneys have access to several different types of expert witnesses, which you’ll learn more about in the following sections. If you would like more information on how we may be able to help you obtain the money you deserve, schedule a free consultation by contacting us online or calling 701-609-1510.
The Role of Expert Witnesses in a Case
You’ll obviously need hard evidence in order to get fair compensation for your injury. However, expert witnesses could provide an extra layer of credibility should your case go to court. They provide objective, clear explanations as to what caused an accident. This paints an accurate picture of all the factors that led to your suffering.
Attorneys often call on expert witnesses to explain some of the complicated details of an accident in an easy-to-understand fashion. Jury members are often not aware of these details. And an expert’s testimony can show them why an accident occurred and who was to blame. This testimony can oftentimes have a powerful, positive impact as a result.
Consulting Witnesses vs. Testifying Witnesses
But not all experts actually present findings in front of a jury. Consulting expert witnesses are just that – consultants. They will, in many instances, provide information that helps an injury victim’s attorney prove a client’s case to an insurance company in an effort to obtain a fair settlement.
On the other hand, testifying expert witnesses are called upon to help explain the circumstances surrounding an accident to a jury.
Types of Expert Witnesses Involved in Personal Injury Claims
If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by another party, you’re obviously going to incur monetary losses. You have a lot of medical bills to pay. You’re probably also losing money because you haven’t been able to work. And you’ve already used all of your vacation and sick days. These losses are known as damages.
But you’re going to need to offer proof someone else is at fault for the accident that led to your injury. That’s the only way you’ll be able to recover your damages. That’s where an expert witness can be a huge help.
Here’s a brief look at some of the several kinds of expert witnesses that are oftentimes called upon to help accident victims.
Medical Experts
Suppose you’ve suffered a severe back injury in a slip-and-fall accident. Or that you’ve tragically lost a loved one in a commercial truck accident. A medical expert witness can look at records and other evidence to show that all accident-related medical expenses are legitimate. If you’ve been hurt, an expert can explain just how severe your injury is. Even though the defendant’s insurance company may be making the argument that you’re not as badly hurt as you claim.
You might think that the only kind of medical expert is a doctor. But that’s not the case at all. Many different types of healthcare professionals, such as medical technicians, physician’s assistance and others can also serve as expert medical witnesses.
Mental Health Experts
In any kind of personal injury case, there are typically both tangible economic damages (lost wages, medical bills, etc.) and intangible, non-economic damages, such as emotional trauma and pain and suffering. While economic damages are fairly easy to document and prove, that’s not necessarily the case for non-economic damages.
A mental health expert can offer evidence that an accident victim is suffering from severe emotional and mental issues. This can also help prove those issues are a direct result of the defendant’s negligence.
Accident Reconstruction Experts
Another reason to hire an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible is that your legal representative may be able to bring in an accident reconstruction expert to help strengthen your case. The reason is this expert could help if there were no witnesses to your accident. Or if no security or other types of cameras have footage that can prove what happened.
Accident reconstruction experts can take the evidence on hand, such as the police report and photos of the scene of the accident, and recreate what happened. This testimony, like that of all expert witnesses, can go a long way.
Engineering Experts
If you’ve been in an automobile accident, the road you were on might have played a role in causing it. Engineering experts can help explain how an iced-over winter road, or some other kind of dangerous condition, was a contributing factor.
Manufacturing Experts
Accidents are often caused by a defective product. If, for example, a vehicle’s tires were negligently manufactured, they might blow out and cause a wreck. A truck’s brakes could fail, resulting in a collision. A manufacturing expert will know everything that went into making that defective product. They can then provide a convincing argument that the product posed a high risk of failure.
Economics Experts
A defendant’s insurance company will sometimes try to claim that you and your attorney are artificially inflating your damages. However, an economic expert can show exactly how your accident has affected your financial situation. That expert will know, for instance, the cost of your medical treatment, and the amount of money you’ve lost due to missing work.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney ASAP After Your Accident
No matter what kind of accident led to your injury, a bicycle accident, vehicle collision or anything else, expert witnesses can have a major impact on your ability to obtain compensation. Sand Law attorneys work with these experts on a regular basis. And we can put their knowledge to work for you. Don’t go at it alone. Contact our team of dedicated and experienced attorneys today.
If you would like to schedule a free consultation, please use our online form or call 701-609-1510.