There are many moving parts of a personal injury case: investigating what happened, determining the value of your losses, dealing with bills and insurance companies, and more.
An expert witness didn’t see your injury happen, but their professional insight and background can be invaluable to your claim.
Here’s what you need to know about different types of expert witnesses and how your personal injury lawyer can enlist their help to support your claim.
What Is an Expert Witness?
An expert witness in a personal injury case is someone with specialized knowledge, skills, training, or experience in a particular field relevant to the case. Their role is to provide testimony based on their knowledge and experience.
They can help the judge or jury understand complex issues and make informed decisions. They provide an independent view on an aspect of a case to support your claim.
Expert witnesses differ from eyewitnesses who saw your accident occur. Eyewitnesses can share their personal knowledge of what they saw.
Expert witnesses are hired by your personal injury to help with evidence related to their specific area of education or experience.
Does Every Case Need an Expert Witness?
Not all cases require an expert witness. An expert’s testimony is most helpful in complex cases with disputed liability and cases requiring specialized knowledge in technical subjects.
For example, say you suffered a debilitating injury such as brain trauma in an oilfield accident. Your lawyer could ask an expert witness to testify about the long-term impact of the injury. The witness could explain how your quality of life will change.
Their testimony provides the judge or jury insight about ongoing medical care you’ll need and how the injury affects your ability to work compared to your life before the accident.
Consulting with a personal injury attorney is the best way to determine if an expert witness can benefit your case and, if so, what type of expert is most helpful.
Types of Expert Witnesses in Texas Personal Injury Cases
Expert witnesses can be helpful in many personal injury claims. Some of the most common types of expert witnesses include:
Medical Experts
These are doctors, surgeons, nurses, therapists, or other healthcare professionals with specialized knowledge related to your injury.
They can testify about:
- The nature and extent of your injuries
- The causal link between the accident and your injuries
- The expected course of treatment and prognosis
Accident Reconstruction Experts
Forensic engineers are specialists who analyze physical evidence.
They use software programs combined with their knowledge of physics and engineering to help establish:
- How the accident happened.
- Speed and impact force of vehicles involved.
- The influence of weather, road conditions, and other environmental factors.
Economic Experts
Economists help calculate the economic damages you suffered due to your injuries.
They can value things like:
- Lost wages or reduced earning capacity
- Current and future medical expenses
- Property damage
Vocational Rehabilitation Experts
These specialists evaluate how your injuries affect your ability to work.
They can provide insights into:
- Whether you can return to your previous job and if modifications are needed.
- Potential retraining required for a new career path.
- Loss of future earning capacity due to limitations caused by the injury.
How Can an Expert Witness Help Your Personal Injury Claim?
Expert witnesses play a vital role in your personal injury case. They can lend their specialized knowledge and credibility to help fill critical gaps in the evidence.
Their testimony should provide the court with a more complete and compelling understanding of what happened. A witness’s statements can help the court understand the full impact of your losses.
Establishing Liability
Establishing fault is critical to recovering compensation in your Texas personal injury case. When liability is contested, an expert witness can provide digestible explanations to support your side of the story.
A strong expert witness can break down complex ideas, summarize them, and guide the judge or jury to interpret in a way that clearly backs your claim.
Assessing Damages
An expert’s testimony can help the court determine fair compensation for the plaintiff. The combined testimony of experts like doctors or vocational therapists can paint a clear picture of the significant financial losses you’ve suffered due to your injury.
How Do You Find and Retain an Expert Witness?
Your personal injury attorney will determine if an expert witness can strengthen your case. They will review the evidence such as your medical records, police reports, and accident scene photos.
Based on this analysis and areas that need to be addressed, your attorney will bring on the most beneficial expert for your case.
They’ll consider factor such as the expert’s:
- Professional qualifications
- Years of experience in their field
- Level of education
- Track record of testifying in similar cases
An experienced attorney should have a network of professional connections and resources they can leverage to find qualified experts.
After finding the right one, your attorney will prepare the expert to support key details of your case in court.
Injured in Texas? Call Kemmy Law Firm Today
Expert witnesses can greatly impact the outcome of your personal injury claim. Your personal injury attorney will choose the right one to strengthen your claim. The right expert witness can help maximize your chances of receiving fair compensation for your losses.
Kemmy Law Firm has over 50 years of combined trial experience and has recovered millions of dollars for injury victims like you. We’ll retain highly qualified and impartial expert witnesses to fit the specific circumstances of your case.
Call (830) 264-6297 or contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
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