What to know about expert witnesses
Expert witnesses provide their opinion on relevant information in court cases. They have specific professional qualifications in an area that relates to a specific case. For example, in a personal injury lawsuit, a professional accident reconstructionist could be hired as an expert witness to provide their opinion on how the accident occurred. In a domestic violence case, a psychologist could be an expert witness to explain why an abused woman has not left her violent husband.
Sometimes, attorneys use expert witnesses to explain more technical information to a jury. Or your attorney may hire an expert to help build your case. An expert with specialized knowledge may help your attorney understand what issues may come up and how to address them to make your lawsuit a success.
When an attorney doesn’t hire experts
No attorney is an expert in everything. If you have a complicated case, such as a medical malpractice or Social Security disability claim, your attorney may need to hire an expert to help bolster the evidence in the case. If your attorney doesn’t hire experts in your case, that could be a sign your attorney is guilty of legal malpractice. Legal malpractice happens when attorneys don’t provide the quality and kind of service another legal professional would.
You need to communicate often with an attorney handling your case, so you feel confident you are receiving the services you paid for. You also want to know that your attorney is hiring the right experts to help your case succeed. And if you feel your attorney isn’t handling your case properly, you might need to consult another attorney about legal malpractice problems. You deserve proper representation in your legal matter.