An expert witness is a person who has special knowledge and skills in a particular field, such as medical science, engineering, or accounting. A South Carolina personal injury lawyer will often hire experts to testify on behalf of their clients in court.
An expert witness can be any professional that provides information, expertise, or opinion on behalf of one side of the case only. Experts usually testify on scientific, technical, or medical matters but can also be called upon to give their opinion based upon their experience as well.
For instance, if you were involved in a car accident where there was another driver at fault and you want compensation for your injuries then it would likely be necessary for you to have an accident reconstructionist.
When Do You Need an Expert Witness?
In order to win a personal injury case, you need to prove that the defendant is liable for your injuries. The only way to do this is by proving that the defendant’s actions caused an accident or incident leading to your injuries.
The tough part of proving liability in a personal injury case is making sure there are enough facts and evidence available about what happened. And it can be hard to know where those facts come from without experience as a lawyer or investigator who specializes in these cases.
That’s why hiring an expert witness can be so helpful.
Expert witnesses review information and evidence from accidents and incidents provided by lawyers. The expert’s findings are then used for negotiations or during trials.
Who Is Qualified to Be an Expert Witness?
There are some qualifications that must be met before you can testify as an expert in a trial. These qualifications include:
- being qualified by education or experience;
- having knowledge of the subject matter;
- having personal observations related to the case; and
- being well-respected in the field of expertise
An experienced personal injury attorney will have a network of experts available to assist in determining things like:
- who is at fault for an accident
- what damages should be
- whether there was a defective part that caused an injury
- whether injuries are caused by the type of accident that occurred
- what the likelihood of recovery is for a particular injury
Many settlements and lawsuits are won based on the testimony of the experts.
Our Personal Injury Attorneys are Here to Help
When you are injured in an accident, it is important to get the best care possible. In order for your injury claim to be successful, you need a personal injury lawyer on your side who will help you navigate all of the legal waters that come with filing a claim. Our personal injury lawyers have an extensive network of expert witnesses who can analyze and testify about the cause of injuries and damages experienced by survivors after an accident. Contact us today.