Car Accident Expert Witnesses You Might Need

Expert Witnesses car accident personal injury lawyer fault and damages

At the scene of a car accident and, quite frankly, even days or weeks later, you and the other driver(s) involved may not view the accident in the same way. Who was at fault? How did the accident happen? One of the ways a personal injury lawyer may help resolve these questions is by retaining expert witnesses. Experts are typically sought to help determine two major aspects of a car accident: fault and damages.

retain Expert Witnesses car accident personal injury lawyer fault and damages

Experts explain technical or complicated case elements.

Expert witnesses provide in-depth information and analysis based on their experience in a specific field or profession. Their knowledge and skill generally help settle disputes. They also assist attorneys in better understanding the circumstances around the accident, so it is critical to retain the right experts.

SCHEDULE A FREE REVIEW OF YOUR CASE


Expert Witnesses in Car Accidents

Accident reconstruction experts can help determine liability by recreating the scene and explaining what happened. They are experienced in rebuilding the chain of events that led up to the accident and their investigation can show a link between the accident and injuries sustained. They are specially trained in the physics, math, and science involved in motor vehicle accidents.

Reconstruction experts may use models, computer programs, and other devices to determine the cause of an accident and things such as:

  • How fast the vehicles were going at the time of the accident and the force of the impact
  • The amount of time it should have taken a driver to perceive a hazard and react to it (braking, evasive maneuvers)
  • What the drivers involved could or could not see (e.g., sightlines available to drivers)

An Economist may be another expert needed, someone who can explain how the injuries suffered have impacted you financially to date and how they may continue to impact you going forward. You want to make sure lost earnings capacity is covered in your claim and an economist’s testimony can cover topics such as a reduced ability to do your job and the lost earnings due to your injury.

A Life Care Planner may explain your disability status and how this will impact your future medical care expenses. This might include providing testimony on disability management and the valuation of an individual’s future care expenses as well as an individual’s earning capacity, their reduced ability to perform the job, the severity of the disability, life expectancy, and related topics.

Expert Witnesses car accident personal injury lawyer fault and damages experts

Vocational Rehabilitation specialists are one type of expert witness.

Vocational Rehabilitation Experts can testify to the type of work you could do before the accident and after. Testimony might cover physical and mental limitations that might limit your ability to do certain types of work, whether there are other types of work that can be done with post-injury limitations or the effect of your injuries to do any type of work. A vocational rehab specialist can help prove your reduced earning capacity, possibly showing that had you not been injured you would have had a greater lifetime earning capacity.

Questions? Contact us at (877) 284-6600.


The Role of EXPERT WITNESSES

Your attorney must prove your injuries were caused by the negligence of another so it is their job to determine if and what expert witnesses will be needed to support your case.

Often, the judge or jury needs someone to help explain complicated areas and expert witnesses may be brought in to do this. They can:

  • Offer factual expert testimony,
  • Provide judges and juries with a summary of the relevant information, what the evidence implies and how to interpret it,
  • Testify as to their professional or specialized opinions and are allowed to make inferences if they are derived from the scientific method.

This post offers just a sampling of the types of expert witnesses your attorney might retain in a car accident personal injury claim.

Keep in mind both the plaintiff (you) and the defendant will use their own expert witnesses to explain complicated elements to the judge and jury.


WHY HIRE NASH & FRANCISKATO?

When you have been seriously injured in an accident due to another’s negligence, you need an experienced personal injury attorney who will collect all the facts about the incident, assess your injuries and answer your questions.

Call us at (877) 284-6600 or contact our office online.  We have a successful track record of helping accident victims collect the compensation they deserve.

One of our experienced staff will speak with you personally and will provide you with a free, no-obligation review of your case.

SCHEDULE A FREE REVIEW OF YOUR CASE

RESOURCES FOR YOU

Would you like to receive news and blog updates on a regular basis? Sign up to receive our email newsletter. Your email address will only be used to send you our newsletter and respond to inquiries.

SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER


Past results afford no guarantee of future results and each case is different and is judged on its own merits. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published November 7, 2021. It was reviewed on July 21, 2023 and updated for content and accuracy.

Contact Us Today for Help!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.