The Role of Expert Witnesses in Personal Injury Cases
If you have sustained injuries in an accident and have filed a claim against the party responsible for the harm you suffered, your personal injury lawyer in Essex will make every effort to secure maximum compensation. Their actions may include conducting a thorough investigation into your accident to gather all available evidence, reviewing the police report for inconsistencies, going through your medical records to understand the relationship between your injuries and the accident, and interviewing witnesses to get their testimonies to back up your claim. In some cases, calling upon expert witnesses may also be necessary. Let’s see how these professionals can help support your personal injury claim.
How Expert Witness Help in Personal Injury Cases
Calling upon an expert witness when you are on trial can have a tremendous impact on a jury. This may be because they can see how the expert witness is describing the specific steps that resulted in the accident or because they are able to describe in minute detail items that played a role in your injuries. Also, when the other side realizes that you have an expert witness backing up your claim, they may be more inclined to settle sooner.However, the other side of the coin may also be true. This happens when the expert called to defend you is not really knowledgeable on their subject matter or fails to offer compelling testimony. That is why it is essential to bring in the right expert.
Are There Different Types of Expert Witnesses?
In general terms, expert witnesses are divided into two distinct categories. A “consulting expert” aims to help counsel understand a technical issue; a “testifying witness” offers an opinion. It is also possible for an expert to play both roles.An important part of the role of your personal injury attorney is to understand the type of witness needed to strengthen your case. They will also know the subject matter in which the witness should be proficient. Here are some examples:
Medical
A medical expert usually testifies to support the nature of the injuries that the plaintiff has. They aim to clarify that it was not the plaintiff who caused their own injuries through their own negligent behavior. In some cases, they may check the injured party personally, while in others they just review the patient’s medical records.Mental Health
In cases in which the injury is mental or emotional, these experts are called in. They may offer support to the plaintiff’s claim of pain and suffering or emotional distress.Financial
These experts focus on monetary amounts, such as how much the plaintiff may lose in future earnings. They may also help compute the present value of the claim.Engineering
In car accident cases, these witnesses focus on what caused the vehicle to veer off-road, why the airbags deployed unexpectedly, or on other scientific explanations for the plaintiff’s injuries.Your lawyer will carefully study your case to call upon the right expert witness. To reach The Parker Law Team, call (410) LAW-YERS.
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Posted - 10/10/2023
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