You could suffer life-altering injuries, such as a traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury, or back injury, in a motorcycle accident. If a negligent driver caused your crash, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries from their insurance company.
However, it may not be easy to convince them to pay you the damages you deserve. Along with hiring an experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer, you may also need to hire expert witnesses to resolve disputes raised by the insurance adjuster in order to settle your claim or win your case at a jury trial.
What Is an Expert Witness?
An expert witness is someone who has education, training, or experience that qualifies them to issue an opinion on a disputed issue in a motorcycle accident case. It is important to select an expert witness who has the right qualifications and who has the ability to explain their findings in a persuasive, understandable way to the insurance company and jury.
Types of Expert Witnesses That Are Helpful in Motorcycle Crash Claims
Hiring an expert witness can be expensive, so you only want to hire the ones you really need. You should retain an experienced motorcycle accident attorney to help you decide which will strengthen your claim. If your lawyer has successfully handled many motorcycle collision claims, they will have a network of qualified experts.
Accident Reconstruction Expert
An accident reconstruction expert may be needed if the cause of your motorcycle wreck is difficult to determine or the insurance company is disputing that their insured’s negligence caused the crash. They would review all the evidence, such as:
- Police report
- Photos of the damage to the motor vehicle, your motorcycle, and the crash scene
- Witness statements
- Video footage of the collision from nearby businesses
- Black box data from the vehicle that struck you
Once they reviewed the evidence, they would make a determination as to how the collision occurred and write a report that your lawyer could use to convince the insurance company of their liability. Many accident reconstruction experts could also create a computer-generated reenactment of your crash that could be shown to the jury at your trial.
Economist
If you suffered long-term injuries you have not fully recovered from, you would be entitled to your future medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In addition, you could also receive lost earning capacity damages if you must make a career change and take a pay cut or become permanently disabled due to your injuries. You may need an economist to determine how much you should receive.
Doctor
You will need a physician as an expert witness to explain the seriousness of your injuries and how they will affect your ability to work and quality of life. They will also be able to determine if you will make a full recovery and, if not, what medical treatments you will need throughout your life.
Vocational Expert
If your injuries will prevent you from returning to your job, you may want to hire a vocational expert. They can give an opinion on the types of jobs you could do given your injuries or explain why they prevent you from working in the future.
Automotive Expert
Not all motorcycle accidents are caused by the negligence of a driver. Some crashes occur when an auto part is defective. If this were true in your case, you would need an automotive expert to prove why the part failed and show that the vehicle and parts manufacturers are responsible.
Mental Health Expert
You could suffer psychological trauma from the terror of the accident and the challenges of coping with how your injuries have changed your life. A mental health expert can testify to the mental health issues you are experiencing, the treatments you need, and your final prognosis.
