Personal injury lawsuits in Charlotte are usually quite complex. The plaintiffs in Charlotte personal injury lawsuits must prove that all of the elements of the lawsuit have been met. To do this, plaintiffs provide evidence through video footage, photos, and expert testimony. Personal injury lawsuits often rely heavily on the information that experts provide.
Experts are often necessary for personal injury lawsuits. Expert witnesses can offer testimony that is often more reputable and detailed than other people who are involved in the case. Expert witnesses need to have the expertise, whether in education or experience, and that must hold themselves to high ethical standards. The word ‘expert’ holds significant weight.
When is the Use of Experts Necessary?Expert witnesses are often useful when an aspect of the injury or accident becomes disputed. For example, the defendant might claim that the fender bender could not have caused a person’s whiplash. An expert witness could use his or her experience to help reconstruct an accident. Or, an expert witness could testify as to how the accident could have caused the specific injuries that the victim suffered.
Expert Witnesses Can Help Prove the Extent of Your DamagesExperts can be particularly helpful when it comes to proving the damages to which the defendant is entitled. This type of information can be very useful when it comes to proving how much the victim’s quality of life has been affected by the injury. The injured party always has the responsibility to prove to the jury or judge that the accident caused his or her injuries.
Expert witnesses do cost a considerable amount of money, but their testimony can mean the difference between getting an excellent settlement and no settlement at all. At Arnold & Smith, PLLC, our lawyers have an extensive network of experts who can offer compelling testimony in personal injury lawsuits. We will take charge of the process of strategizing the need for an expert witness as well as hiring the right expert witness or witnesses in your case.
What are the Qualifications for an Expert Witness?Expert witnesses must have a high degree of skill in their respective fields. They will need to have practical experience as well as academic knowledge to deliver reliable information to the court in the area of their specialties. Specialties can range from engineering to medical practice, to accident reconstruction.
The Role of an Expert Witness in a Personal Injury LawsuitIn personal injury lawsuits, lawyers can call general witnesses to help provide evidence and clarity on contested issues. Usually, witnesses who are called to testify actually witnessed the car accident or other event that caused the plaintiff’s personal injuries. Witnesses do not need to have the expertise to testify unless they are being called specifically as expert witnesses. This is because expert witnesses are professionals who are called specifically to offer scientific knowledge or technical skills in a particular subject area.
Calling a Medical Expert Witness to the StandMedical expert witnesses can testify about the victim’s specific medical injury or injuries. They can also testify about the victim’s recovery options and prognosis as well as treatment information. When necessary, an expert witness will also provide their opinion about how the injury will negatively affect the victim, whether for a certain time period or indefinitely.
In medical malpractice lawsuits, the expert can testify as to how the doctor deviated from the standard of care. In other words, they can testify as to what a doctor would reasonably do under similar circumstances. Medical malpractice cases are incredibly complex. Medical malpractice experts need to have expertise in the area about which they are testifying. Many times, medical experts are not only doctors, but specialists. For example, if the personal injury victim required a leg amputation as a result of an accident, the expert witness could be an experienced orthopedic surgeon.
Accident Reconstruction Experts in CharlotteThe most common personal injury lawsuits involve car accidents. Accident reconstruction experts use computer technology and their experience to reconstruct car accidents. They have training when it comes to investigating motor vehicle accidents and using evidence from the scene of the accident to prove exactly how the accident happened. They can often provide information about the speed at which the vehicles were traveling, the direction everyone was moving, as well as the force of impact.
Contact Our Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers TodayIf you have suffered a personal injury, you might have a valid claim to compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. Contact Arnold & Smith, PLLC today to schedule your free initial consultation.