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Some wrongful death lawsuits benefit from the knowledge and testimony of expert witnesses and others do not require experts. An experienced wrongful death lawyer can advise you about whether experts are needed for your case and can help you find the experts that you need.
Three Benefits of Expert Witnesses
Generally, expert witnesses are used to prove one of the following:
- The facts of the case. It can be difficult to know what happened that caused the horrific accident that took your loved one’s life. Experts who work in the field may be able to review the evidence and provide credible testimony about the facts of the incident that led to your loved one’s death.
- Liability. It isn’t enough to prove what happened. You must also prove that those facts result in a legal cause of action upon which the court can grant you relief. In other words, you have to prove that the facts make the person who caused your loved one’s death liable. In many cases, this means that the person who caused your loved one’s death was negligent and an expert witness may help prove that the person who caused your loved one’s death failed to act like a reasonable person and that that his actions or inactions caused your loved one’s death.
- Damages. Evidence will need to be presented about the full value of damages. This includes anticipating future lost compensation, pain, and suffering. Expert witnesses may provide important testimony about these and other losses.
Each of these things is important to your claim.
Different Kinds of Experts May Help
Depending on the unique circumstances of your loved one’s death, the following kinds of experts may be important to your recovery:
- Accident reconstructionists.
- Engineers.
- Doctors.
- Coroner.
- Economists.
- Accountants.
- Vocational experts.
- Psychologists.
In some cases, other experts may also be important.
While some expert witnesses may have high fees, it is important to consider their value to your case. As with any decision in any lawsuit, it is important to conduct a cost benefit analysis to determine whether the expert may provide more value to your case than it costs to hire her.
For more information about expert witnesses specifically or how a wrongful death case works generally, we encourage you to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced and empathetic attorneys. We are available 24 hours a day via this website or by phone, and we would be pleased to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with you at your convenience.
