The Purpose of Expert Witnesses | The Different Kinds of Expert Witnesses
When you have been hurt in an accident caused by the carelessness or negligence of another person, you have a right to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover full and fair compensation for all your losses. As a part of that legal proceeding, you’ll need to prove that the defendant (person from whom you seek damages) caused the accident. You’ll also need to establish the full amount of your current and future losses as a result of your injuries.
The evidence used to prove your claim will typically take the form of eyewitness testimony or physical evidence. You may have statements from others involved in a car accident or from bystanders. You may also have pictures of the damage to your vehicle, your injuries or the road conditions at the time of the crash.
It’s also customary, though, for expert witness testimony to be gathered. This testimony will generally be used to establish:
- Liability—Who caused the accident and how they caused it
- Damages—The financial impact of the accident, including lost wages, unreimbursed medical expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of companionship or consortium, pain and suffering, and property damages
The Different Types of Expert Witnesses
To establish liability, your attorney will often retain the services of an accident reconstruction specialist, typically an engineer, who can take the physical data of an accident and determine exactly what happened. Such an expert may measure skid marks, look at specific damage to a vehicle or use other physical evidence.
To help a judge and jury calculate all your losses, you’ll typically want the testimony of:
- A medical expert, who can identify the specific types of injuries you have suffered, the type of care you’ll need, your prospects for full recovery and any ongoing medical care you’ll need
- A financial specialist, who can calculate your actual losses thus far and project the costs you’ll incur in the future. This specialist will commonly determine a present value of your future losses.
Contact the Cintron Firm
At the Cintron Firm, LLC, we offer more than 14 years of experience to people in New Jersey facing a broad array of legal challenges. Attorney Mark Cintron has worked as a prosecutor and has extensive courtroom experience, so he’s always ready, willing and able to protect your interests before a judge or jury. Contact our office online or call us at 201-791-1333 or 917-494-5695 to set up an appointment.