Filing a personal injury lawsuit can help you recover the losses you sustained because of another party’s conduct. These aren’t simple legal processes, however, and you typically need to provide significant amounts of proof to show that the defendant caused your injuries. In cases when liability is not straightforward, expert witnesses can be essential.
Expert witnesses can give your personal injury case its best possible chance of succeeding. This can mean receiving the damages you need to address medical expenses and other losses. Here’s what you need to know about expert witnesses and how they can make a difference in your personal injury case.
Types of Expert Witnesses
Personal injury law relies on many different types of expert witnesses to bring clarity to a case. Hiring medical experts is common, since they offer insight into the severity of injuries and how they can impact the plaintiff’s life. They also help establish the medical care the plaintiff may need in the future and whether a full recovery is possible.
Accident reconstruction experts are extremely helpful, as well. They use computer programs, forensic evidence, and physics to recreate the conditions in which the accident occurred. Their help can aid in understanding the contributing factors and the cause of the crash.
Similarly, vocational experts help juries and insurers understand whether the plaintiff will be able to work as they used to, while economic experts calculate the financial losses the plaintiff incurred. Engineering experts analyze technical issues in cases involving product liability.
To provide an idea of the emotional and psychological toll an injury has on a plaintiff, you’ll need a mental health expert. They can clearly explain the full extent of the loss of quality of life that an injury could cause.
How Expert Witnesses Can Impact a Personal Injury Case
Expert witnesses can significantly strengthen your personal injury lawsuit in a number of crucial ways.
Clarifying Complex Issues
Expert witnesses can explain technical issues and clarify data or technical jargon that could complicate the case. For example, in a car accident that occurred because of a defective auto part, an expert witness can clearly show how the part malfunctioned and why it resulted in a crash.
They can also help break down financial information. This is essential when calculating damages like loss of earning potential. They can establish how much you would have made throughout your working life so that it’s clear for insurers or juries when they’re making a determination on damages.
Identifying Liable Parties
Establishing responsibility isn’t always simple, especially in cases involving medical malpractice or product liability. With the help of expert witnesses, it can be easier to identify who may be liable for the accident. Experts can state how it occurred and what negligent or wrongful conduct led to it.
In cases that deal with negligence, it’s sometimes difficult to prove causation, especially if there’s a gap of time between the accident and when you realize you were hurt. An expert witness can provide a clear connection between the accident and your injuries.
Proving Economic and Non-Economic Damages
Expert witnesses assist in showing how seriously the injuries have impacted your life and what future costs you may have because of them. A medical professional, for instance, can explain the type of physical therapy you may need after a knee injury and how long the recovery will take. This can impact not only your medical expenses, but your lost wages, too.
Non-economic damages are difficult to quantify, but an expert witness can bring some clarity. They can speak about the level of physical pain an injury causes, as well as the distress that a condition like post-traumatic stress disorder can result in.
Economists can show how they calculate your future losses so that there are fewer disputes on the compensation you need for loss of earning potential.
Strengthening Case Credibility
Expert witnesses bring further credibility to a personal injury lawsuit as well. They are professionals in their field and, as such, won’t lend their name to claims that they don’t believe have merit. Their objective testimonies can counter key disputes that insurers or defendants start.
FAQ
What Is My Texas Personal Injury Lawsuit Worth?
In most instances, the cases that involve the most severe injuries, have the most evidence, and impact the victims most seriously are the ones that are worth the largest settlements or jury awards. Each case is unique, however.
Is There a Deadline in Texas to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Yes, it’s called the statute of limitations. In Texas, you usually have two years to begin a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss that deadline, you can be barred from recovering any losses. It’s one of the reasons why hiring an attorney as soon as possible is so important.
Who Pays for Expert Witnesses in Personal Injury Cases?
Your lawyer will advance these costs. If you receive a settlement or jury award, you can then reimburse your attorney with a percentage of those winnings.
Turn to the Experienced Attorneys at Ramsey Law Group
After suffering an injury because of another party’s conduct, it is critical to hire experienced representation to protect your claim. At Ramsey Law Group, our skilled team has contacts throughout various industries in Houston and across the country, allowing us to hire the exact expert witnesses you need.
Let a proven team with over 25 years of experience safeguard your future. Contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with us today.