Expert Witnesses | Virginia Personal Injury Attorney | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

In order to prove the facts of a personal injury case, a Virginia personal injury attorney will use the testimony of expert witnesses. An expert witness offers testimony that is more detailed and comprehensive than other witnesses who may have been involved in some way with the incident, either directly or indirectly. There are some cases where an expert witness provides the most profound evidence that the victim’s injuries were the result of the at-fault party’s negligence and how those injuries affect the victim’s life.

There are many types of evidence a Virginia personal injury attorney will use to build their case, including police reports, medical records, and photographs. An attorney will also use witness testimony to detail and clarify details of the accident. However, not all witnesses are expert witnesses. A bystander who witnessed a car crash is not deemed an expert witness. They can only relate to the jury what it is they saw, basically just sticking to the facts and not offering an opinion.

 

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Expert witnesses are different. These witnesses provide clarification for any contested issues that come up in a personal injury lawsuit and their testimony frequently affects how the jury decides the case.

The different types of expert witnesses that a personal injury attorney may call to testify include:

  • Accident Reconstruction Experts: Accident reconstruction experts have the training and experience to reconstruct exactly how an accident occurred. Some of the tools they may use are drawings and computer programs.
  •  Economics Experts: Economics experts are often called to testify to explain how an injury has impacted the financial situation of a victim and how it may impact them in the future.
  • Engineering Experts: Engineering experts may describe how a location’s design contributed to an accident. They may be used in vehicle accident or premises liability cases.
  • Manufacturing Experts: If the injury was caused by a defective product or part, a Virginia injury attorney may call a manufacturing expert to testify. For example, they may testify that a defective tire led to a car crash.
  • Medical Experts: Medical experts often testify about the victim’s injuries, treatment options, and recovery. They also may testify as to how an injury may affect a victim in the long-term or if the injury will leave permanent damage.
  •  Mental Health Experts: Mental health experts are often called to testify to explain how an accident may have affected the mental and emotional well-being of the victim. This information can be used to calculate financial compensation for damages such as pain and suffering and emotional distress.

Contact a Virginia Injury Attorney Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by the negligence of another party or parties, contact Shapiro & Appleton today to meet with one of our skilled Virginia personal injury attorneys. We can schedule a free case evaluation and determine what type of financial compensation you may be entitled to. Our legal team will work diligently to get you the compensation you deserve.