expert witness

Expert witnesses are individuals that were not present at the scene of the accident but can provide accurate information about the accident, based on their expertise.

Car accident claims are rarely easy to solve. A car accident has so many influencing factors, that the discovery period of a case can be complicated and long-lasting. 

When gathering evidence and testimonies, lawyers often find that some aspects of the accident circumstances are left unknown. Witnesses might not remember every detail of the incident, the drivers and passengers involved are also biased and might provide contradictory statements. Sometimes, even police reports or medical records may contain an error or simply lack certain details. 

In these cases, lawyers and insurance companies have to dig deeper for hard evidence to support their side. 

What Are Expert Witnesses?

Expert witnesses are individuals that were not present at the scene of the accident but can provide accurate information about the accident, based on their expertise. 

Examples of expert witnesses include:

• Medical specialists – they can evaluate your injuries and predict how long your recovery period will take and what treatment you will need.
• Mental health experts – they are crucial in determining the pain and suffering the accident has caused you, and their testimonies will serve as evidence when you claim compensation for your depression, anxiety, stress, etc.
• Financial experts -if you have to evaluate the property damage you have suffered or the lost income and secondary expenses that your accident has caused, then an economist can help calculate your losses.
• Highway safety experts – an engineer who can evaluate the road and traffic conditions at the time of your accident. Sometimes, an accident is not caused by the negligence of a driver, but by the negligence of the municipality in charge of road maintenance.
• Accident reconstruction experts – some of the most valued expert testimonies are those from accident reconstruction experts, who can provide evidence of causality between the accident and your injuries. 

Another important thing expert witnesses bring to the table is their unbiased opinion. The statement of an expert witness, besides being supported by experience and expertise, will not be tainted by a certain sympathy with one of the sides. 

Hiring an expert witness can be expensive and should only be reserved for cases that are stuck with incomplete or biased evidence. The court may request an expert witness account, or your St. Louis car accident lawyer might recommend it. 

How Can a Car Accident Attorney Help You?

It’s a good idea to get in touch with a St. Louis injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. An experienced car accident or personal injury lawyer can help you find the right expert witnesses that can shed some light on your case. They will also negotiate their fee and assist them in providing crucial information for your case. These are important steps that can help maximize your settlement and get you fair compensation. 

A car accident attorney can help find expert witnesses to testify on your behalf.

Unfortunately, not all car accidents end with a resolution and settlement. Sometimes, you have to take the other driver to court to get fair compensation for your injuries. The problem with that is that the victim holds the burden of demonstrating that the other driver was responsible for the accident. A St. Louis car accident lawyer can help you gather all the documentation required to build a solid case. They can also help find expert witnesses to testify on your behalf.

Here’s what you need to know about this practice.

The Role of Expert Witnesses

An expert witness is a professional who has knowledge and experience in a particular field and can provide unbiased information that would help the jury reach a verdict. Their role is to help the jury understand better the circumstances or consequences of the accident. They are not there to offer their opinion on the case but provide solid facts and data-driven information.

Two types of professionals are usually required to testify in car accidents personal injury cases:

• Expert witnesses: Whether we are talking about doctors, psychologists or economists, they are usually required to provide their unbiased opinion about the case. The information they present is thoroughly analyzed by the court for validity.

• Fact witnesses: This type of witnesses also present the things that they have seen or experienced by themselves.

Here are some of the responsibilities expert witnesses hold:

1. Offer data-driven information about the case;
2. Provide an unbiased, independent opinion about the case. Personal opinions have no place in a court of law;
3. Comply with the rules of the procedure;
4. Guarantee that the information presented is truthful and essential in helping the jury reach a verdict.

Types of Expert Witnesses in Car Accident Personal Injury Cases

When it comes to auto accident personal injury cases, an expert witness will analyze any complex detail of the incident and try to provide a professional conclusion that would help the jury understand what happened.

Their expertise can cover anything from how the collision inflicted the injuries to the financial toll the accident may have on the victim.

Here are some of the types of witnesses that your St. Louis auto accident attorney may call to testify.

• Medical Experts: A medical expert will present the pathology and anatomy of the victim’s injuries. They will also explain how severe the damages are and the course of treatment the victim needs to get healthy.

• Rehabilitation Specialists: Whether we are talking about social workers or therapists, these expert witnesses will explain how the accident affected the victim’s quality of life and what they need to do to recover from the physical and emotional trauma.

• Auto Accident Reconstructionist: This expert can help the jury understand how the accident happen. They will analyze everything from the speed of the vehicles to the environment.