Injuries resulting from car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and falls, among other things are far too common. In fact, you may know someone who has been hurt in an accident and sought compensation for the harm suffered through bringing a personal injury claim. You may not, however, know someone who has gone through a personal injury trial. This is because it is actually fairly rare for a personal injury claim to need to go through litigation in order to be resolved. More often than not, the claim is settled out of court, even before the need to file a lawsuit has arisen. On occasion, however, going to trial is necessary in order to see justice accomplished and when this happens, you may feel overwhelmed at the road ahead. There will be many moving parts your attorney will need to address as your claim moves towards trial. One such moving part is the retaining of expert witnesses, who can play a critical role in the trial as a whole.
Expert Testimony at a Personal Injury Trial
Witnesses can be called at a personal injury trial for a number of reasons. Their testimony can play a pivotal role in the resolution of contested issues. If there are questions regarding who is liable for causing the accident, eyewitnesses can provide details that support the narrative asserted. There are also people who will testify at trial who were not at the accident scene but can, nevertheless, shed light on complex and unresolved issues in the case.
Expert witnesses do not qualify to testify at a personal injury trial because they saw the accident occur. The ability for an expert witness to testify at trial stems from the fact that he or she has expertise in a particular area that comes from things such as education, training, or experience, and this expertise can help clarify complex subjects and issues raised in the trial. An expert witness may be a:
- Physician
- Surgeon
- Accident reconstructionist
- Mental health professional
- Appraiser
- Economist
- Vocational expert
Depending on the type of expert witness, he or she can provide vital testimony as to things such as the nature and extent of a victim’s injuries. Furthermore, the expert witness may testify regarding treatment and recovery options. Expert witnesses specializing in engineering can provide testimony regarding technical aspects of the case such as proper roadway maintenance and the structural integrity of a building, which are common in premises liability cases. An economic expert can testify as to the economic impact of the accident on the injury victim. This can include detailing how earning capacity has been impacted by the injuries.
While many expert witnesses are retained in order to provide clarifying testimony at trial, other times an expert witness is retained for consultative purposes prior to trial. An attorney may seek information from an expert witness prior to trial in order to help get guidance on central issues and facts involved in the case. Sometimes, a consultative expert witness may also go on to testify at trial.
Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been injured in an accident, do not delay in reaching out to the dedicated personal injury team at Hunt Law. We will start working tirelessly on your case right away and work towards getting you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Contact us today.