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What is an Expert Witness and What Role Do They Play in Personal Injury Cases?

02/14/2022
Personal Injury
BY

Expert witnesses are often key pieces of evidence in car accident cases. Such witnesses tend to offer important testimony to be able to help prove your case. A witness in a personal injury case is usually one of two types of witnesses – a lay witness or an expert witness.  

  • Lay witnesses may be an eyewitness who observed an auto accident firsthand.  
  • Expert witnesses are often professionals with specialized knowledge about a particular subject.  

Both lay and expert witnesses are essential to create a strong and credible case. If you were seriously injured in a car crash and have questions about what witnesses you should call to testify in your case, a Florida accident lawyer at Searcy Denney can provide guidance in selecting credible witnesses who will speak on your behalf. An experienced attorney can also help you evaluate key factors to identify the witnesses (both expert and lay) who will best support your case. Our team is especially experienced in selecting expert witnesses, as they play a crucial role in proving personal injury cases. 

What is an Expert Witness?

In a personal injury case, typically an expert witness is a professional who has specialized knowledge, training, education, skills, and experience in a particular subject matter and is qualified to testify on the specific subject. The purpose of using an expert witness is often to help explain a complex matter that may help to strengthen your case. For instance, sometimes issues in a personal injury case can be very technical. An expert witness can help explain complex technical matters in plain language so that a jury or judge can understand the complexities and nuances of the issue being presented.  

An example of an expert witness in a personal injury case is an accident reconstruction engineer who can testify about how speed is determined at the scene of an accident. He or she can offer conclusions about who caused the accident. This type of witness is often objective and may be believable to the judge and/or jury.

What Role Does an Expert Witness Play in a Personal Injury Case?

When selecting an expert witness, it is important to make sure the witness will come across to the judge or jury as knowledgeable and credible. This is important because expert witnesses play a crucial role in a personal injury case by testifying at trial. The credibility of an expert witness may help the witness’ testimony to be perceived as more likely than not to be true.  Some factors to consider when selecting an expert witness to testify in your personal injury case include, but are not limited to: whether the witness’ testimony is clear, consistent, and convincing; whether the witness has a reputation for being honest and trustworthy; and whether the witness has a clean and professional appearance.

At trial, expert witnesses often help the judge or members of the jury understand information that may be more difficult to comprehend. Such witnesses can help explain nuanced information in a way that even a layperson can figure out. Additionally, the expert’s role is important to a case because they can help provide an objective and credible appearance to enhance a party’s case before the trier of fact. 

Identifying credible and knowledgeable expert witnesses can be tricky. If you need help evaluating and selecting credible witnesses in your auto accident case, contact a Florida accident lawyer for assistance. An experienced lawyer can help select the right witnesses for your case.

Need an Expert Witness for Your Case? Contact a Florida Accident Lawyer for Help  

If you have been injured in a vehicle accident in Florida and have questions about witnesses, contact an experienced Florida accident lawyer at Searcy Denney for a free case evaluation. We have experience with personal injury cases and can help prepare your case by helping you select key expert witnesses to prove your case. Our attorneys have decades of experience in personal injury law and working with witnesses. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with one of our lawyers. We have offices conveniently located in TampaWest Palm Beach and Tallahassee. We are happy to assist you and we work on a contingency fee basis.

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