Whether you were hurt in a slip and fall accident or were struck by a negligent motorist, having an expert witness can play an important role in winning your personal injury lawsuit. A qualified expert witness is a professional who has the education, skill, knowledge, training and experience in a specific discipline. It is their duty to provide the court an impartial opinion based on complex facts that may be difficult for the layman to understand.
In personal injury cases involving motor vehicle crashes, healthcare professionals and accident reconstructionists are some of the most common types of expert witnesses called to testify. A medical expert can provide testimony about the nature and severity of the plaintiff’s injuries, and if they will suffer permanent damage or require ongoing medical care. Whether your attorney calls on a financial analyst, a neurosurgeon or a pain management specialist, their expert testimony can help substantiate your claim, and improve your chances of securing money damages.
Here are four other ways an expert witness can ensure your personal injury claim has the highest chance of success.
Explain complex jargon
Without a highly credentialed expert witness to explain complicated language that is common to their profession, jurors can easily become mired in the jargon, and pass over or misunderstand critical facts. An expert witness will be able to convey complex data in layman’s terms, offering vital insights in a professional, concise manner. Competent experts can lead the jury into technical or medical fields they previously had little knowledge about while advancing the theme of your case.
Their opinion is unbiased
Expert witnesses do provide their professional opinion based on evidence and facts, but they remain 100 percent neutral, or unbiased. This impartiality is essential for building the validity of their testimony, since expert witnesses have no allegiance to the plaintiff or defendant.
Establish the long-term impact of your injuries
Experts can testify to much more than the extent of your injuries and/or disability. They can also attest if the injury will undermine your ability to work and provide a fact-based opinion on the amount of predicted economic losses that will ensue over the course of your life. An expert in mental health may be needed to establish a degree of emotional and psychological harm that was suffered, helping to put a monetary value to less tangible non-economic losses.
Provide leverage to settle early
A knowledgeable expert witness with ample trial experience can speed up the litigation process considerably. In some personal injury claims, the defendants will settle based solely upon the expert’s report. This leverage can help plaintiffs resolve their claims sooner rather than later and avoid lengthy trial proceedings.
Consult with a Louisiana personal injury attorney
As a veteran Louisiana personal injury lawyer, Bart Bernard realizes how instrumental expert witnesses are to prove liability and maximize the value of a claim. We have worked with some of the most respected experts to help our clients win the compensation they need and deserve.
If you’ve been hurt in an accident, call 900-9000 for more information on pursuing a legal claim with a strong advocate who gets result. The consultation is free and all injury claims are taken on a contingency basis.
Read More on the Role of an Expert Witness:
- Cornell Law, Expert Witness https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/expert_witness
- Legal Dictionary, Expert Witness https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Expert+witnesses
