The Different Types of Experts | How They Can Help
When you’ve suffered an injury in New Jersey because of someone else’s carelessness or wrongful acts, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit for damages. To succeed, you’ll need to introduce evidence to prove that the defendant failed to act reasonably, causing the accident, as well as your losses. There are a number of ways of proving your claims—through eyewitness testimony, through physical evidence, or based on the examination and cross-examination of the parties. However, one of the most important and effective ways to prove your case in court is through the use of expert witness testimony.
The Different Types of Expert Witnesses Commonly Used in a Personal Injury Lawsuit
To successfully recover full and fair compensation after an injury, you’ll need to prove two things:
- That the defendant caused your accident—this is commonly referred to as “liability”
- The full amount of your losses—this is known as “damages”
Expert witnesses provide evidence to help prove both liability and damages:
- Liability—The expert most often used to demonstrate fault or liability is referred to as an “accident reconstruction specialist.” Often an engineer, this person will typically visit the scene of the accident and gather as much physical evidence as possible, such as skid marks or vehicle damage. The accident reconstruction expert then re-creates the accident, showing how it happened.
- Damages—Two experts are often brought in to help establish the full amount of losses—a medical expert and a financial expert. The medical expert typically focuses on the types of injuries suffered, how they were sustained and how they will affect you in the future. A financial expert will calculate the full measure of your monetary losses, both now and in the future.
