In the aftermath of a high-speed car accident, it is far from uncommon for the people involved to be unsure about exactly what happened or even what injuries they have sustained because of the c rash. However, if you want to recover fair financial restitution for the effects of a wreck someone else caused, you will need to be able to prove that they were the reason the wreck happened in the first place and that they caused you specific injuries and losses through their misconduct.
As any experienced car accident attorney can tell you, managing all that during private settlement negotiations — let alone civil court proceedings — can be far from simple. That is why it is often necessary to involve expert witnesses in Phoenix, AZ car accident cases, and to have assistance from capable legal counsel in making the most of the experts on your side. Let the team at Phillips Law Group put their experience and resources to work for you. Call to learn more.
Who Could Be an Expert Witness in a Car Wreck Claim?
Under Arizona state law, someone qualifies as an “expert witness” for the purposes of a civil claim if they have specialized knowledge, training, and/or experience in a particular field that is relevant to the matter(s) under dispute in the case. In practice, this typically means an expert witness is someone who has worked in the field they will speak about for several years and is often still actively working in it, either as a public servant, private employee, or as either a teacher or professor.
Expert witnesses often brought into Phoenix, AZ car crash cases can include:
- “Accident reconstructionists,” to establish exactly how a wreck happened
- Engineers, to establish how a mechanical fault or defect may have contributed to a crash
- Healthcare providers, to establish the cause and severity of injuries
- Vocational and/or economic experts, to establish how a particular injury will affect someone’s working capacity
Guidance from a seasoned legal professional can be vital to finding relevant experts and bringing them on board to help with a specific lawsuit or settlement demand.
The Role of an Expert Witness During a Car Accident Case
As noted above, the main function of expert witnesses in Phoenix car accident cases is to help the injured “plaintiff” prove they have valid grounds to file suit and to establish that they deserve to be compensated for specific damages as a result of their accident. However, they can also play a key role in explaining complex topics to civil court judges and jury members, and sometimes even to other parties in private settlement talks.
On the flip side, expert witnesses can also be used by defendants to argue against an injured person’s assertions that they were hurt in specific ways due to a reckless or careless act. In this type of scenario, an expert witness can help push back against that pushback and offer counterarguments that may strengthen the injured motorist’s claim again.
A Phoenix, AZ Attorney Can Help Contact Expert Witnesses for a Car Accident Case
No two auto accidents are exactly alike, and neither are any two people who could meet the criteria to be considered “expert witnesses.” In virtually every situation, though, assistance from a trusted attorney will be key to finding relevant expert witnesses in Phoenix, AZ car accident cases and to ensuring they help your claim more than harm it.
Phillips Law Group has been helping people in the Phoenix area get the civil restitution they deserve for over 30 years, and we are not afraid to go to court on your behalf if that is what it takes to get you paid fairly. Get in touch with one of our team members today to discuss your options or schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. We look forward to speaking with you about how we can help. Please feel free to reach out today with any questions!