Do I Need a Wrongful Death Expert Witness?

Personal injury cases often deal with complex issues like medical information, industry-specific safety standards, and even the laws of physics. Helping judges and jury members understand difficult and unfamiliar concepts can be challenging without the assistance of a qualified specialist, so this is where an expert witness comes in.

A personal injury expert witness can provide clarity on tough subjects in easy-to-understand language that the average person can digest and think critically about. We go over which cases benefit from the addition of an expert witness and how Mazow | McCullough, PC can help you strengthen your own case below.

Types of Personal Injury Cases That Can Benefit From an Expert Witness

Most personal injury cases can benefit substantially from the testimony of a qualified expert witness, including:

Car Accident Cases

After a car accident, there are several expert witnesses who might be called on to testify, including accident reconstruction specialists, medical experts, traffic safety professionals, and engineers. These individuals can help establish key facts like how the accident happened, whether traffic signals at the scene meet safety regulations, and how severely the victim’s injuries impacted them.

Motorcycle Accident Cases

Motorcycle accident cases may also involve accident reconstruction experts, helmet and safety gear specialists, and forensic accountants that can help analyze the financial impact of the incident. If a motorcyclist was hit by a drunk driver, there may also be toxicology experts and medical professionals who specialize in alcohol addiction and how it affects the human body.

Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Cases

Nursing home abuse and neglect cases are complex and often involve medical information that is difficult for the average person to understand. Good expert witnesses in cases like these include geriatric care specialists, former nursing home administrators, social workers, nutritionists, pharmacologists, and forensic pathologists. Depending on the facts of a case, it may be necessary to prove things like:

That the industry standard of care was violated
That a victim’s injuries are consistent with neglect or abuse
That a victim is suffering psychologically or emotionally as a result of abuse
That the wrong medication or dosage was given to the victim
That a nursing home failed to adhere to protocol

Dog Bite Cases

After someone is attacked by a dog, their legal case might include testimony from an expert in:

Animal behavior. An animal behaviorist can provide insight into the dog’s actions and potential triggers for the attack.
Veterinary care. A veterinarian can testify about the dog’s health and any medical conditions that contributed to the dog’s aggression.

Infectious diseases. In cases where a bite involved the spread of rabies or certain types of bacteria, an infectious disease expert can give details about how this impacted the victim and what kind of treatments were required.
Plastic surgery. If a dog bite victim is disfigured, a plastic surgeon may be called on to discuss restorative procedures and how disfigurement is expected to affect the victim in their daily life.
Psychiatry. A psychiatrist or psychologist can testify about anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health consequences of a dog attack.

Wrongful Death Cases

Wrongful death lawsuits are both factually and emotionally challenging. The types of experts involved in these cases are most likely going to be:

Doctors and surgeons
Forensic pathologists
Medical examiners
Other medical experts
Economists
Forensic accountants
Vocational experts
Occupational safety experts
Psychologists
Toxicologists
Engineers
Behavioral experts
Law enforcement officers
Emergency response personnel

These witnesses can testify about the victim’s cause of death, whether negligence was a factor, the emotional impact on the family, and what financial expenses they are expected to face in the weeks, months, and years following their loved one’s untimely passing.

Call Mazow | McCullough, PC to Schedule Your Free Case Consultation Now

Personal injury cases are often challenging, especially when the other side has a large legal team and aggressive representation. However, you can bolster your case and give it the best possible chance of success with the help of a qualified expert witness.

Call our experienced Salem, MA personal injury lawyers at (978) 744-8000 or toll-free at (855) 693-9084 to get started. Or, fill out our online contact form here so we can get back to you as soon as possible.