Expert witnesses assist in many personal injury cases. They help judges and jurors understand complicated and technical information. To qualify as an expert witness, a person must have specialized knowledge, training, skill, or experience in a specific subject.
The Texas Rules of Evidence govern the use of expert witnesses in personal injury cases. Rule 702 allows an expert to testify in the form of an opinion or otherwise if they meet the above criteria. In other words, the court must find that a person has sufficient training, experience, skills, or education that qualifies them as an expert on a specific subject.
The law only allows experts to testify if their knowledge can help the trier of fact understand information or evidence relevant to deciding a dispute. The expert clarifies and explains technical, scientific, or specialized evidence. The triers of fact in a jury trial are the jurors.
What Types of Expert Witnesses Are Used in Texas Personal Injury Cases?
A Texas personal injury lawyer may hire one or more experts to assist with your case. The type of experts needed depends on the type of personal injury case and the issues involved.
Examples of personal injury expert witnesses include, but are not limited to:
- Medical Specialists – These experts testify regarding several medical issues in a personal injury case. They may explain the severity of your injuries and how your injuries prevent you from performing specific tasks. Medical experts also testify in medical malpractice cases to establish the standard of care and explain how the doctor deviated from that standard.
- Accident Reconstructionists – They use the evidence in an accident case to “reconstruct” how the collision occurred. By reconstructing the accident, they can determine how it happened and the factors that contributed to it, which helps identify the responsible parties.
- Life Care Planners – These experts can explain how your injuries impact your ability to care for your personal needs, as well as your life expectancy and quality of life.
- Financial Experts – If you sustain permanent impairments, a financial expert can assist in estimating the value of future economic and non-economic damages. Future damages can include the cost of ongoing medical treatments, long-term care, future loss of income, and decreases in earning capacity.
- Vocational Rehabilitation Experts – These experts can assess how your injuries impact your ability to perform your job duties. If you cannot resume your pre-injury employment, they will evaluate what type of work you can perform, given the limitations and restrictions of your injuries.
- Engineering Experts – Engineers may be used in numerous types of personal injury cases, from premises liability and motor vehicle accidents to product liability claims.
- Transportation Safety Experts – A transportation safety expert helps jurors understand how systems and safety devices in vehicles could have contributed to the cause of a car crash or the severity of injuries.
- Manufacturing Experts – These experts assist in product liability claims. They can explain how a defect during the manufacturing process caused a product to be dangerous to use.
- Trucking Experts – Trucking specialists can explain the complex systems required to operate commercial motor vehicles. They may also assist in explaining various trucking regulations and how violating those regulations could contribute to the cause of an accident.
Our lawyers work with top-rated expert witnesses in numerous industries. We can consult experts as necessary to gather evidence to strengthen and support your claim.
Why Would I Need an Expert Witness for My Personal Injury Case?
An attorney may hire an expert witness in a personal injury case for numerous reasons.
Examples of how an expert witness could assist with your case include:
- An expert may use statistical data and specific information to estimate the cost of providing lifelong care for someone who lost a leg in a car accident.
- An expert may explain how a drug’s ingredients cause adverse reactions that are linked to a higher risk of developing cancer after taking the drug.
- A medical specialist can explain how your injuries prevent you from being able to lift more than a few pounds. The impairment may prevent you from caring for your small children, so you may need to hire childcare professionals.
- An expert can explain how a defective automobile part contributed to the severity of your injuries in a car accident.
The above list is just a few examples of how experts assist in personal injury cases. Experts may testify in court, but they can also help during the investigation and discovery phases of a personal injury case.
A Texas Personal Injury Attorney Can Consult Experts To Strengthen Your Claim
Contact our Texas personal injury lawyers at 281-992-8633 for a free consultation if you were injured in an accident or other incident. We will evaluate your case and explain your legal options during a no-obligation consultation.
