How An Expert Witness Can Benefit Your Court Case

How An Expert Witness Can Benefit Your Court Case

Meaghan Kleine Blog

Are you facing a challenging, complex legal battle and need all the help you can get? You may want to consider hiring an expert witness to provide testimony. 

Expert witnesses are professionals within their industry — many of them do not have a legal background or education. They provide relevant facts, data, and empirical research to the courtroom about a case. 

While an expert witness can feel like an extra expense, their testimony can be a vital tool to secure a win in court. If you are contemplating using an expert witness in your defense, here’s what you need to know ahead of time. 

Rule 702: The Qualifications Of An Expert Witness

In order to employ an expert witness, the individual must be “qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education” and their opinion on the matter is rooted in verifiable research. Their insight will help the judge and jury understand the facts and data as it relates to the case.

Now, you might be wondering, will you really need an industry professional testifying on your court case? And if you do, how do you find one? 

 

 

Ask an attorney. If your legal team feels that an expert witness would positively benefit your case, they may already have a network of industry professionals who are willing to take the stand. Otherwise, you will need to personally contact the expert and inquire about their services.

The Difference Between Eyewitnesses And Expert Witnesses

A witness is an individual that can provide evidence as it relates to a distinct court case. So, if John Smith sees a burglary in progress, he witnessed the crime and could be subpoenaed to give eyewitness testimony in court. 

An expert witness is a qualified, paid professional who provides testimony on relevant court findings in a factual manner that everyone can comprehend. 

While John Smith can provide an eyewitness account of the burglary in his testimony, an expert witness can testify on the technical abilities needed to deactivate a specific brand of security camera equipment. 

Why would it be important to call an expert witness in this example? It could demonstrate that the defendant prepared and planned the burglary if their criminal intent is called into question. That makes a testimony on the complexities of disarming the security cameras an important piece of evidence. 

Expert Witness Examples For Different Legal Cases 

From family law matters to business disputes, expert witnesses can impact any court case. Here are some experts that could be called for testimony:

 

  • A forensic accountant discussing possible hidden finances within divorces, money laundering schemes, and embezzlement of business funds. 

  • An engineer reviewing the safety features of a product and the likelihood of injury when used properly. 

  • A licensed medical professional discussing pain, suffering, and treatment plans as it relates to an injury.

  • A licensed mental health professional reviewing the results of psychological evaluations, symptom presentation, and competency of an individual.  

 

 

This list barely scratches the surface of possible experts that could provide testimony in the courtroom. When you’re looking for the right professional for your case, who you choose for legal representation matters. The right lawyer will have specific recommendations for expert witnesses tailored to your needs. 

Schedule A Legal Consultation With Hickey & Hull

Finding an expert witness is tough, but finding a dedicated legal team to help aid your court battle is easy with Hickey & Hull. Our law offices have spent years serving Arkansas residents throughout the state, which means we may have expert witness suggestions for your case. 

Schedule a time to chat with one of our associates and find out how Hickey & Hull can help you overcome your legal battle!