Evidence is the most important part of any case. Expert witnesses can offer compelling testimony that will significantly benefit your personal injury case. Contact a Pikeville, KY personal injury lawyer to discuss your options and how certain evidence can contribute to your case.
What Types of Expert Witnesses Can Benefit My Personal Injury Case?
Below are the types of expert witnesses most commonly used in personal injury cases and the benefits that they offer.
- Medical experts: This can include doctors, nurses, and other specialists who can provide testimony on medical issues, treatments, diagnoses, and the lasting effects of injuries.
- Economic experts: Economists, financial analysts, and accountants can assess economic damages and expenses that the victim has incurred like medical costs, loss of income, property damage, etc. They can also predict future medical expenses and loss of earning potential to determine the victim’s true economic losses. Economic experts use their skills to assess damages and determine how much compensation a victim is owed for their medical and other related expenses.
- Mental health experts: Psychologists and psychiatrists can assess the impact the accident has had on the victim’s mental health and speak to their emotional distress, pain and suffering, and the overall psychological impact of their injuries. Non-economic damages are important to evaluate so mental health experts can help calculate those losses.
- Accident reconstruction experts: These experts analyze the scene of an accident, vehicles and their damage, photos, and other physical evidence to reconstruct the events that led to the accident. When an accident reconstruction expert recreates the scene they can determine nearly exactly what happened, helping to establish liability by determining who was responsible.
How Do Experts Benefit a Personal Injury Case?
Expert witnesses offer significant advantages in legal matters. Their testimony will help educate the jury on complex topics, making it so they understand exactly what is being said and the implications of various factors. For example, a doctor can explain the potential long-term consequences of an injury or treatment and how it will impact the victim’s life.
Their testimony will also help establish liability, calculate the economic and non-economic losses the victim suffered, and lend credibility to the case. An expert witness’s statement will generally influence settlement negotiations. The opposing side may be more inclined to offer a fair settlement to avoid trial if you have credible experts willing to testify. On the other hand, if you do go to trial, the expert will likely influence the jury’s decision on how much compensation to award.
Do I Need a Lawyer?
While you may not technically need a lawyer during a personal injury case, it is always recommended to have professional representation. It is crucial that you obtain compensation for your injuries and are able to cover your expenses. Individuals with legal representation generally walk away with a higher amount of compensation.
Incorporating expert witnesses into your personal injury case can increase your chances of a favorable outcome. Work with a skilled lawyer to discuss your options and communicate with experts who are willing to help with your case.
