Gwinnett County Car Accident: What Role Do Expert Witnesses Play?

Expert witnesses aren’t just a fabrication of TV legal procedurals like Law & Order. In fact, expert witnesses are often a crucial component of a successful personal injury lawsuit. Nevertheless, people outside of the court system may be unclear on the role of an expert witness in a legal case.

If you’re injured after a car accident in Gwinnett County, Georgia, you may have a valid legal claim for compensation, and you may need an expert witness to testify on your behalf. Car accidents in nearby Cobb County also often require expert witnesses, especially in complex cases involving multiple vehicles, commercial trucks, or disputed liability.

Let’s take a look at the role expert witnesses play in a Gwinnett County car accident, laws that can impact their testimony, and how a car accident lawyer can help you to find the ideal expert witnesses.

• What you need to know about expert witnesses in Georgia
  • What is an expert witness?
  • Types of expert witnesses used in Gwinnett County
• How expert witnesses can help your case
• When you might need an expert witness in Gwinnett County
• How a lawyer in Gwinnett County can help
• The weight of expert witness testimony in a car accident case
  • Pros and cons of expert testimony
• Contact The Scott Pryor Law Group today

What you need to know about expert witnesses in Georgia

After you’ve been in a car accident in Gwinnett County, you may choose to file an insurance claim against the at-fault party in your collision. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may need significant compensation. 

However, insurance giants are infamous for lowballing and even outright denying accident claims. A Gwinnett County personal injury lawyer can help to negotiate with the insurance company and advise you on the best legal steps you can take to recoup your losses.

What is an expert witness?

According to Georgia Code §24-7-702, an expert witness must hold specific qualifications in order to give valid testimony in court. Many car accident cases and general personal injury lawsuits do not require an expert witness. 

However, a car accident lawyer in Gwinnett County will ensure that any experts they call upon in your case meet these qualifications.

Per Federal Rule of Evidence 702, an expert witness must:

• Possess a high level of experience, knowledge, skill, training, or education on the subject addressed by their testimony  
• Have scientific, technical, or specialized knowledge to assess the evidence or to determine facts
• Give testimony based on sufficient facts and data
• Testify based on reliable methods and principles 
• Demonstrably and reliably applied facts and data to the case, and based their testimony on this process

Similarly, according to the federal law, the Daubert Standard, expert witnesses in Georgia must provide relevant and reliable evidence.

Types of expert witnesses used in Gwinnett County

Your Gwinnett County car accident lawyer will discern if expert witnesses are needed to prove your case by considering each of the losses you’ve suffered as a result of your collision.

The opposing counsel in your lawsuit will attempt to poke holes in your case, and may treat expert witnesses with aggression. Thus, it’s vital that any expert testimony is given by parties that are compliant with the qualifications mandated in Georgia. 

Your lawyer can prep any expert witness called to testify on your behalf, and allow them access to any pertinent case data. 

The types of expert witnesses called in your car accident case might include:

• Accident Reconstruction and Mechanical Experts: Accident reconstructionists use data including evidence from the scene of your accident and the damage your vehicle incurred to prove liability and the cause of your crash. Mechanical experts may testify to mechanical or manufacturing issues that may have caused your collision.
• Economic Experts: Actuaries, economists, and financial planners can use data to determine the long-term financial impact of your accident. This may include your future earning potential, lost wages, and a variety of other financial factors.
• Highway Safety Experts: Engineers and other highway safety experts may be called upon to testify to road conditions, construction risks, traffic signals, and more to help prove that these conditions may have contributed to your accident.
• Medical Experts: Doctors, caregivers, and other medical professionals can testify to the correlation between your accident and your injuries, your diagnosis and treatment plan, the life-altering impact and severity of your injuries, and your present and future care needs.
• Mental Health Experts: Mental health experts like psychiatrists and psychologists may testify to the emotional distress and mental anguish that could have been caused by your car accident. If you’ve been diagnosed or treated for psychological health issues like PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) as a result of your crash, these experts can testify to how these disorders or challenges could impact your life.     

How expert witnesses can help your case

Accident reconstructionists and mechanical experts can explain in great detail and specificity the conditions and mechanical issues that led to your car accident. Economists, financial planners, and medical and mental health experts can help to prove and calculate the compensatory damages you might seek in your case.

A car accident lawyer in Gwinnett County will carefully select expert witnesses to allow a judge and/or jury to see the validity of your claim, help you to justly recoup your losses, and help you to achieve the best possible outcome in your case.  

When you might need an expert witness in Gwinnett County

If an insurance company tries to claim that you hold modified comparative negligence (partial fault that can decrease your compensation) in your case, expert witnesses could help to prove that you do not have liability for your car crash. 

Expert witnesses play a role in:

• Explaining complexities and technical information related to your car accident case
• Proving how the accident occurred and who is at fault
• Providing insight and evidence on the validity of your damages claims

How a lawyer in Gwinnett County can help

A great lawyer in Gwinnett County has access to resources that you might not have on your own. For example, a great attorney will have a network of credible expert witnesses who can play a role in your case, and money to pay them any fees they may charge for their services.

The right lawyer will be able to determine if expert testimony is warranted in your case, and communicate with you about the experts they may consult. 

The weight of expert witness testimony in a car accident case

The credibility and recognition of an expert witness goes a long way in a car accident case. For example, a judge may heavily weigh the testimony of expert witnesses with demonstrable knowledge and insight, professional achievements and success, and proven credibility in previous cases.

Ideally, an expert witness will not concede points while under cross-examination and will add to the strength of your case. The right witness will be objective, and possess a high level of specialized education, experience, and training in their field. Often, experts may be required by the court to provide extensive reports and evidence to back up their testimony.  

Pros and cons of expert testimony

The right expert witnesses can play an important role in the outcome of your case. A personable and clear communicator can appropriately share data, evidence, technical jargon, and insight. Thus, a jury may weigh the testimony of this witness and use it to determine a significant compensatory award in your lawsuit.

Unfortunately, the personality and demeanor of an expert witness can detrimentally impact your case. If a witness appears overly hostile, defensive, or cocky, this may cause a judge/jury to rule against you, despite the credibility of the evidence the witness provides.

The quality of expert witnesses is far more crucial to your case than the quantity. For example, although you may include severe injuries in your damages claim, seven different medical experts may not be necessary. 

One to two experts may convince a jury, but a multitude of expert witnesses could cause jury members to disregard their testimony. If your case is relatively straightforward, your lawyer may not choose to use any expert witnesses to bolster your claim. 

Contact The Scott Pryor Law Group today

A lawyer with The Scott Pryor Law Group can help you to retain expert witnesses in your Gwinnett County car accident case, guide you through the legal process, and fight for your justice.

At The Scott Pryor Law Group, we care about the pain and suffering you’ve endured, and are passionate about helping you, your family, and your loved ones heal from the trauma you’ve experienced.

We can’t guarantee a successful outcome to your case, but we’ll utilize expert witnesses to strengthen your claim, and have recovered 7-figure settlements for many clients. Schedule your free consultation with The Scott Pryor Law Group today.