What Is An Expert Witness In An Injury Case?

If you are injured and attempting to collect compensation from that at-fault party, oftentimes it comes down to your word versus there’s. If both parties have lawyers by their side, both cases can sound somewhat compelling, and it can be hard for a judge to determine who is telling the truth. In these instances, an expert witness can make all the difference. But what is an expert witness, and how can they help you win your case? We take a closer look at expert witnesses in today’s blog.

What Is An Expert Witness?

An expert witness is someone with an advanced understanding of a specific topic. More specifically, an expert witness is defined as someone “who is qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training or education…if:

The expert’s scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue;
The testimony is based on sufficient facts or data;
The testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods; and
The expert has reliably applied the principles and methods to the facts of the case.

In other words, an expert witness applies a unique background, understanding or skill set to a specific case such that their opinion provides additional credibility to a situation. Their methods and principles must be applied correctly and they must be prepared to defend their opinion if questioned, but oftentimes their testimony ends up being the lynchpin that ties a case together.

Using An Expert Witness For Your Injury Case

If you are hoping that an expert witness can help to confirm your version of events, you’ll want to connect with an attorney who has extensive experience working with expert witnesses in the past. Dean and the team at Margolis Law Firm have worked with a wide variety of expert witnesses to help prove our client’s cases, and we’d be happy to help determine if a specific type of witness may be right for your situation.

One of the most commonly used expert witnesses is the physician who treated the injured party. They can speak in greater detail about the extent of the injury, the patient’s current medical needs and what care may look like weeks, months or years down the road. We can work with your doctor to ensure they are prepared to take the stand in your defense in the event that you are injured as a result of someone else’s actions or negligence.

Anyone who meets the above criteria can be called to testify as an expert witness given the specifics of a case, which is why we have worked with a wide variety of expert witnesses, including:

Accident reconstruction experts
Civil engineers
Forensic experts
Toxicologists
Premises liability experts
Biomechanical engineers
Occupational-specific experts
Economics experts
OSHA compliance experts

It’s worth noting that these experts typically will not donate their time for free. They usually command a fee to review evidence and appear in court and provide testimony, but oftentimes their costs more than pay for themselves if they can help you secure a larger injury award. Again, this speaks to the importance of having a lawyer work with the expert to ensure all the details are understood and how the case can be best presented to a judge. Let us handle the intricacies of bringing on an expert witness while you focus on your health and family.

For more information about expert witnesses or bringing one in to help prove your injury case, reach out to the team at Margolis Law Firm today at (952) 230-2700.