How Experts Are Used to Strengthen an Accident Claim

Jun 30, 2020 - Personal Injury, Tuscaloosa by Cross & Smith

Tuscaloosa Injury Attorney Helping You When You Need it Most

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Alabama, then you may be entitled to sue and recover damages as compensation for the harm caused by the defendant.

Litigating a claim is not always straightforward, however.  If the defendant is unwilling to settle very early, then you’ll likely have to bring on experts who can evaluate the facts surrounding the accident and interpret it in such a way as to provide supportive testimony.  This testimony can be a valuable tool for securing a favorable result in litigation and our Tuscaloosa injury attorney is prepared to help you get the experts needed for your specific situation.

Let’s take a closer look.

Using an Expert to Testify on Relevant Issues

The testimony of an expert witness can strengthen your accident claim in a variety of different ways.  For example, if there is insufficient photo and video evidence of a car accident in which you’re involved, you can hire an accident reconstruction expert to investigate the facts surrounding the accident (i.e., skid marks, damage to the vehicles, etc.) and reconstruct what actually happened.  Depending on how persuasive the testimony is, and how credible the expert is, this testimony may have a significant and positive influence on the outcome of your lawsuit.

A skilled Tuscaloosa injury attorney will coordinate experts, coach them on what “not” to say, and generally integrate the testimony of such experts with the overall case strategy.  This is a critical aspect of litigation and must be tailored to the particularities of a client’s dispute — an expert may be sensible for one accident claim, but not another.

Expert Credibility and Trial Strategy

At trial, attorneys participate in a back-and-forth process of challenging the credibility of the opposing side’s experts — thus undermining the testimony introduced in support of a given claim.

For example, suppose that you are injured in a car accident at a traffic light.  The defendant-driver attempts to introduce the testimony of a traffic engineer to argue that the light was defectively designed and caused the accident (in other words, it was not the driver’s fault).

You could ostensibly challenge the credibility of the traffic engineer expert by showing that they lack adequate industry certifications, training, or experience.  You might also point to conflicting responses they’ve made (with regard to interrogatories that your attorney conducted prior to trial).

By undermining their credibility, you can potentially disqualify them from testifying or simply damage their ability to persuade the judge/jury as to a particular point.

Contact a Tuscaloosa Injury Attorney for a Free Consultation

At Cross & Smith, our attorneys have decades of experience working with a range of injured plaintiffs — from those who have been harmed in car and truck accidents, to those who have tripped and injured themselves on a retail premises, and more.

Over the years, we have gained deep insights into what makes a case successful — including expert testimony — and work tirelessly to ensure that our clients are given the assistance they need throughout the process to secure a favorable result.

Unlike many of our competitors, we are willing and able to take a case to trial, if doing so is necessary to maximize our client’s wellbeing.  This commitment to thorough representation is reflected in our results: over $150 million in settlements and verdicts.

Ready to speak to a skilled Tuscaloosa injury attorney at our firm?  Call us at 205-391-0618 or send us an intake form through our website to schedule a free and confidential consultation today.