When people work with a catastrophic injury lawyer to pursue compensation after an accident, their attorney must enlist an expert witness to help support their claim. These people are authorities who can explain complex medical topics in depositions or in court. They can provide expert testimony in catastrophic injury cases. Their assistance can be instrumental in securing compensation for injured people. Below, we explain the role of an expert witness in a catastrophic injury case, how expert witnesses help injury cases, and how you can benefit from their involvement in your personal injury claim.
Why Are Expert Witnesses Important in Catastrophic Injury Cases?
Catastrophic injury cases involve serious, often life-altering harm that can lead to extensive medical costs, long-term care needs, and significant changes to a person’s ability to work. An expert witness can offer detailed explanations about the cause of the injury, the extent of the damage, and the future impact on the injured person’s life. Expert testimony can help clarify complex medical, financial, or technical issues for judges and juries. By providing credible, fact-based opinions, expert testimony can strengthen the plaintiff’s case and help establish the full value of the compensation they seek.
Types of Expert Witnesses in Catastrophic Injury Cases
Depending on the type of accident and the nature of the injuries, an attorney may turn to various expert witnesses for a catastrophic injury case. Different types of expert witnesses can address different facets of the claim and provide important information that helps build a clearer picture of how the injury occurred and how it affects the victim’s future. Different types of expert witnesses in catastrophic injury cases might include:
- Medical Experts – A medical expert witness in a personal injury case can explain the severity of the injury, the necessary treatment, the prognosis, and the likelihood of long-term or permanent disability. Doctors, specialists, and other healthcare providers often serve as medical expert witnesses and project future costs that will be incurred during the lifetime of the injured person.
- Accident Reconstruction Experts – These professionals can analyze physical evidence, witness accounts, and engineering principles to explain how the accident happened and who may have been at fault.
- Biomechanical and Safety Engineers – Engineers are often required to explain how an injury could have been avoided and the dangers of the product being used at the time of the accident.
- Vocational Experts and Life Care Planners – These individuals assess the injured person’s ability to return to work. They can also identify future medical, rehabilitation, and personal care needs.
- Economic Experts – These experts calculate the financial impact of the injury, including lost income and diminished earning capacity. They also incorporate other witnesses’ testimony to come up with a total figure that encompasses the economic loss for the person’s entire life expectancy. These future costs can include long-term care, home modifications, and other adjustments to meet the injured person’s changing needs.
Our firm hires expert witnesses to write reports and testify in your catastrophic injury case and helps you find ones that can best support your case.
Choosing the Right Expert Witness for Your Case
Selecting the right expert witness is important because their input can make a significant difference in your catastrophic injury case. Your lawyer can find experts with strong qualifications and relevant experience who have a history of providing clear, credible testimony in catastrophic injury cases. The expert should be able to explain technical information so that a jury will understand.
How an Attorney Uses Expert Witnesses Effectively
Careful use of expert witnesses can strengthen your position during the legal process. Your catastrophic injury attorney can identify the type of expert witnesses needed for your case and find qualified individuals who meet the specific needs of the claim. Due to the complex nature of these cases, many catastrophic injury lawyers have relationships with experts, which can make securing their testimony much more straightforward.
Your lawyer can prepare the expert for depositions and trial testimony to ensure they present the information clearly and persuasively. Attorneys also know how to structure questions to highlight the most essential parts of an expert’s opinion.
Eisenberg, Rothweiler, Winkler, Eisenberg, & Jeck, P.C. is a firm of experienced trial attorneys who work with catastrophically injured clients through life’s toughest trials. Contact us today for a free case consultation with a catastrophic injury lawyer.
