The Role of Expert Witnesses in Alabama Personal Injury Cases 

Building a solid personal injury case takes evidence. Medical records, police reports, photographs, and video evidence can all help paint a compelling picture of what caused the accident and who is responsible. However, expert witnesses also play a significant role in Alabama personal injury cases. Understanding what an expert witness does and how they can help support your case is vital when you’re pursuing compensation for medical expenses and other financial losses after an accident that wasn’t your fault.

What Is an Expert Witness?

Most people have heard about how witness testimony can impact a court case. However, more than one type of witness can affect the outcome of a personal injury case in Alabama. There are fact witnesses who witnessed an event and can provide information about what they saw, and there are also expert witnesses.

What are expert witnesses? As the title implies, expert witnesses are experts in their field of study. This means they have relevant and in-depth professional experience and specialized knowledge in specific fields. An expert witness knows more than lay people about a specific topic. They use this knowledge to help clarify complicated issues in court and give additional insight into certain aspects of an accident or legal case.

Types of Expert Witnesses Commonly Used in Alabama Car Accident Cases

Some of the expert witnesses whose testimony may be useful in an Alabama car accident or personal injury case include:

• Medical experts – Medical experts can provide expert witness testimony that outlines the severity of an accident victim’s injuries and how those injuries may impact the individual in the future. They can also offer their professional opinion on the victim’s ability to work, mental health, and overall quality of life.
• Accident reconstruction experts – Determining liability for an accident is not always straightforward. An accident reconstruction expert uses scientific methods to reconstruct every aspect of an accident, from weather and road conditions to the speed of both vehicles and the angle of impact, to help establish how the accident happened.
• Engineering or mechanical experts – Mechanical defects and other vehicle issues can lead to significant collisions. Engineering and mechanical experts can use their skills to offer expert testimony on defective products or parts.
• Economic experts – Economic experts outline the financial impact of an accident on a victim. Their expert opinion may be crucial to calculating the value of a personal injury claim.
• Vocational experts – If the injured person cannot return to work or must change jobs because of an accident-related disability, a vocational expert can show why the victim cannot return to their original job.

How Stokes Stemle Finds the Right Experts for Car Accident Cases

At Stokes Stemle, LLC, our Alabama car accident team has the experience to craft a solid personal injury claim on your behalf. We also have the resources to secure expert witnesses whose testimony can help support your case. We aim to use our knowledge and resources to pursue maximum compensation for your medical expenses and other losses.

Contact our office today and request a free consultation with an Alabama car accident attorney.