The first thing to look for in an expert witness is experience and skill. The witness must have all the relevant credentials and qualifications specific to your case.
Witnesses are an integral part of every car accident case and play a crucial role in determining the verdict. Witnesses in car accident cases boil down into two main types, eyewitnesses and expert witnesses.
While eye witness accounts are important, opinions from expert witnesses generally hold more weight in determining the final outcome of your case.
Today, we’ll be highlighting a few factors you need to consider when picking an expert witness for your case.
The Witness’ Experience and Expertise
The first thing to look for in an expert witness is experience and skill. The witness must have all the relevant credentials and qualifications specific to your case. They must also have a considerable amount of field experience for their expert opinion to count.
The more experienced an expert is, the better they are at understanding their particular niche. Any expert you settle for must have both scientific, technical, and practical knowledge of their field. This will be evinced by the expert’s credentials, qualifications, and industry years.
Expertise in Testifying
While industry expertise is one thing, testifying is another different thing. As such, it’s important to find an expert witness that has had prior courtroom experience. A good expert witness should be well familiar with both depositions and trials. That way, the expert can defend their position, sidestep traps by the other side, and communicate their opinions to the jury.
Check the Expert’s Reports and Other Publications
It’s also important to check out reports and other publications that the expert has prepared before for cases like yours. These reports will give you a concrete idea of the expert’s understanding of the subject matter. Pay keen attention to the intricacy of the report, the wording, and the length.
A good expert witness should put considerable effort into compiling their report. Aside from the technical jargon, the language should be firm and persuasive. There should be no signs of inconsistencies or second-guessing throughout the report.
Also, check the expert’s previous professional publications and whether they hold merit. It’s not uncommon to find previous publications that contradict the expert’s current findings.
The Expert’s Demeanor
Arrange a face-to-face meeting with the expert to understand the kind of person you’re working with. The expert’s demeanor should be professional, starting from their dressing to their language. The expert should also be confident, assertive, and articulate in their speech.
Check for the above qualities, and you’ll be good to go.
Pick the Right Expert Witness for Your Case
The expert witness you settle for could make or break your car accident case. It’s important you do your digging to find a proper expert witness for your case. The information above should help you do just that.