The Role of Expert Witnesses in Personal Injury Cases

If you or a loved one has experienced long-term, life-altering injuries in an accident or incident caused by another party, you could be entitled to compensation for the costs associated with your injuries. It is important to understand that you can only collect compensation when you can prove that another party’s negligence caused the accident that led to your injuries. The compensation that you are entitled to depends upon the evidence you provide with your claim. 

Common types of personal injuries that we work with expert witnesses to help our clients achieve the best possible outcome in their claims and cases:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Rideshare accidents
• Negligent road design
• Medical malpractice
• Wrongful death

To learn more about how to collect the full compensation you are entitled to for your personal injury, connect with a Florida personal injury lawyer from Clark Fountain today. 

You Can Only Collect Damages You Can Prove 

The insurance company of the at-fault party does not automatically award you the full amount in damages that you are entitled to, but rather only awards damages you can prove with evidence, after you have proven the liability of their covered party. Insurance companies don’t work for you, they work for profit, and make more of it by reducing the amounts they pay to injured persons such as yourself. Your claim may be denied as a delaying tactic, or to get you to accept a settlement that is lower than what you deserve. 

It is important to seek out immediate medication attention following your personal injury to ensure there are no immediate health threats. Then it is time to reach out to a local Florida personal injury lawyer to help you get started with the process, including the gathering of evidence and contacting experts for assistance with your claim or case. 

Providing Unbiased Opinions to Help Establish Liability 

The primary functions of expert witnesses deployed in support of your case is not only to prove your damages, but also to prove the liability of the other party or parties involved in the accident. You must prove that another party was negligent, which is a legal term that basically means that you were owed a duty, that duty was breached causing an accident, and you experienced injuries with damages as a result of the accident. 

When it comes to car accidents, for example, as the plaintiff’s attorney, the injured party bringing the claim or lawsuit against the responsible defendant, a crash reconstructionist might be used. A crash reconstructionist is a trained professional who takes the time to review the evidence of a car accident and testifies why it demonstrates the defendant is at-fault for the accident. 

A car accident can be caused by a wide variety of reasons including distracted driving, drunk driving, and drowsy or fatigued driving, with the driver generally being responsible in these situations. Sometimes an employer of a truck driver may be liable if they were overworked, or the manufacturer of a vehicle if an equipment malfunction caused the accident. 

Medical Expert Witnesses Provide Opinions that Measure Long-Term Healthcare Costs 

Medical costs following a life-altering injury can be substantial and impact your household’s financial stability if not covered in your settlement. While emergency room bills and follow-up care are included in your settlement, so are your long-term medical costs linked to your personal injury. These include:

• Emergency medical treatment and care
• Follow-up treatments including surgery
• Rehabilitation
• Medications
• Mental health care

All costs linked to the accident caused by the liable party should be covered within the context of your settlement. However, as noted above you can only collect compensation for damages that you can prove. A medical expert will carefully assess your current condition, and calculate the short- and long-term medical expenses that your injuries will require to ensure that your family is not left covering any associated bills. 

Occupational Expert Witnesses Measure the Impact On Your Earnings 

One type of expert witness is employed to prove the liability of the other party, then a medical expert to measure your short- and long-term medical costs. An occupational expert considers your medical records and your occupation to determine the impact of the symptoms of your injuries on your ability to work. One of the key aspects of your damages are the lost earnings that result from your injuries, both in the short-term related to lost wages, as well as in the long-term concerning reduced earnings ability. 

You might not know where to begin to find expert witnesses to help on your case. This is one of the benefits of working with an experienced local personal injury lawyer, as we have a network of experts to pout to work in support of your case. 

Why Work with a Personal Injury Lawyer? 

Working with a personal injury from the start of your claim after your personal injury supports the best possible outcome in your case. It is best to speak with an attorney before beginning negotiations with the insurance company, and certainly before you accept an offer of settlement. When you accept a settlement offer, you are unable to collect anything further from the claim, which can lead to you having to cover related bills. 

Your local Florida personal injury lawyer from Clark Fountain will step into your shoes and help schedule appointments with experts and gather opinions from your claim, and handle all negotiations with the opposing party. We only get paid if we win, and your initial consultation is free. 

Connect with a Personal Injury Lawyer from Clark Fountain

If you or a loved one has experienced a long-term, life-altering injury, we can help, and your initial consultation is risk-free and cost-free. Call us at 561-559-7875, or visit our site to schedule your initial consultation.