The Role Of An Expert Witness In An Injury Case
Are you in the middle of a personal injury lawsuit that is going to trial, and your lawyer has mentioned bringing in an expert witness? If so, you likely have a few questions about what this person's role will be in your trial.
What Is An Expert Witness?
An expert witness is a professional that has specialized knowledge relating to something about your injury case. While they are typically a medical professional who has specific knowledge about your type of injury, an expert witness can actually specialize in just about anything.
Why Do You Need An Expert Witness?
The purpose of an expert witness is to give your case credibility to a jury. While you can explain what caused your injury, it means a lot more coming from a medical professional that has a history of dealing with that type of injury. An expert witness ends up making your case more believable and helps sway a jury to rule in your favor. Having an expert education with plenty of experience and education in a topic related to your injury is going to help strengthen the case.
Does An Expert Witness Cost Money?
There is a cost involved with hiring an expert witness, which will need to be paid if you win or lose your case. This is because the expert witness is taking time away from their job to come to court on your behalf. The fee that is charged can vary depending on the complexity of what they are explaining in court and how much time they spend in court.
In addition to the fees associated with paying for the expert witness to appear in court, there may be other charges related to their services. For example, the expert witness may be flying in from out of town, and you'd need to pay for their travel and lodging. You must decide if the value they add to your case is worth the cost.
Why Not Bring In Your Own Doctor?
Your doctor is capable of explaining the extent of your injury, but they likely do not have the experience of being in court. An expert witness has the job of attending court cases just like yours, and they are very familiar with what the process is like and how to present their information. This experience of giving testimony is part of what you are paying for, and you need to decide if their value is worth the additional compensation you can receive.
For more info, contact a local professional like Franklin L. Jones, Jr.