The Role of Expert Witnesses in Texas Personal Injury Cases

In Texas, personal injury cases often hinge on the testimony of expert witnesses. As the name might imply, expert witnesses provide the court or jury with their specialized expertise, training, experience, and views so that they may make well-informed rulings or conclusions.

But not everyone can testify as an expert in a Texas court. One must meet certain requirements to qualify as an expert witness in the state. For instance, medical malpractice claims are one area where having an expert witness is crucial.

Oftentimes, an expert witness's credibility is the deciding factor in the outcome of a personal injury lawsuit. In most cases, they are the best way to prove financial losses.

Read on to learn more about how expert witnesses and their testimony are used in Texas personal injury cases, and if you need help with your claim, don't hesitate to reach out to contact our Dallas personal injury lawyers at the Rasansky Law Firm.

What is an Expert Witness?

An expert witness is a person who can testify to certain facts in a case because of their extensive expertise on the topic. An expert witness may help a judge or jury better understand complicated material in a personal injury case by providing their opinion or interpretation of relevant facts, statistics, or evidence.

In Texas, an expert witness may testify if:

• The case may benefit from their scientific or technical expertise if a judge and/or jury are trying to make sense of the evidence at hand or decide a fact in dispute
• The evidence presented in the testimony is substantial and results from tried-and-true procedures and standards.
• The expert has used relevant theories and procedures to analyze the claim in question.

An expert witness's testimony in Texas is limited to matters within their area of competence. But expert witnesses may be asked to do more than testify in court; they may also consult with personal injury attorneys, complete research, and write reports.

To prove fault in a personal injury lawsuit, your attorney may require the assistance of a credible expert witness who can attest to the details of your claim and rebut any false claims made by the defendant(s).

An expert witness's role is twofold: first, to bolster a party's case with factual evidence, and second, to discredit the other party's witness testimony.

What's more, an expert witness can help prove numerous types of compensatory damages, including but not limited to the following:

• Injuries, and in turn, future treatment costs
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of income and earning potential

Commonly-Used Expert Witnesses in Texas Injury Claims

Various specialists, ranging from medical professionals to industry insiders, may testify as witnesses in court. Your personal injury case may benefit from the testimony of several expert witnesses, such as:

Mobile Phone Technicians and Technology Expert Witnesses

Negligence on the part of drivers is a common cause of auto accidents. Damages may be claimed against the negligent motorist if they were using a mobile device, such as texting or chatting on the phone, at the time of the accident. Expert analysis and explanation of mobile phone data by a specialist may strengthen these types of cases.

Talking or texting on a mobile phone is a leading cause of preventable car crashes. The time and location of this action are recorded by the mobile phone, which may be crucial evidence in assessing whether or not cell phone use was a contributing factor in an accident. A technical expert may get this information and testify on the process.

In a similar vein, other technology experts can contribute testimony in Texas for a variety of injury cases. For instance, over the last 25 years, Electronic Control Units (ECUs) have become standard equipment on most commercial vehicles. These record data about velocity, engine RPM, and deceleration.

Initially, ECUs were placed by manufacturers to prevent engine warranty claims, but today, this technology is providing critical evidence in personal injury lawsuits. A malfunctioning ECU may suggest that the vehicle was not properly maintained or that the driver had been awake for too many hours before the accident.
Technology experts can also recover lost GPS, as well as computer files.

Commercial Truck Specialists For Personal Injury Claims

On a related note, an expert witness in commercial vehicle maintenance may be necessary because of the complexity of commercial accident claims.

These experts may testify as to whether or not the truck company and its driver complied with planned maintenance rules, how long it took to come to a complete stop, and whether or not a driver's sight was impaired.

First Responders as Expert Witnesses

Police officers, EMTs, and firemen are often the first people to arrive at the site of an accident, making them excellent candidates to testify as experts for a myriad of personal injury claims.

Expert Toxicologists For Accident Claims

Expert medical toxicologists are common and may even be required in a personal injury case if the other driver is suspected to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. In that same vein, certain medical malpractice cases require expert testimony.

Crash Investigators and Reconstructionists 

Expert evidence from a vehicle crash reconstructionist in Texas may be necessary for collision analysis, speeding, or braking cases.

Moreover, expert witnesses tasked with reconstructing an occurrence do so by piecing together available facts and information about the case to determine what happened and when it happened. This will allow the expert witness to effectively convey the situation and its causes to the judge or jury.

Call a Dallas Personal Injury Lawyer

Our team at the Rasansky Law Firm takes great pride and pleasure in our track record of successfully aiding accident victims in securing monetary compensation for their injuries and other losses.

We promise to treat you and your loved ones with the utmost respect and consideration through every step of the claim process. From the first day you step foot in our office, you and your loved ones will be treated with care and compassion.

We are committed to providing you with the highest quality service, striving to exceed each client's expectations. Our attorneys have served the Dallas-Fort Worth region and the rest of Texas for over three decades, focusing on personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death cases, and so much more.

Reach out to our personal injury lawyers in Dallas at 214-617-1886 if you or a loved one have been injured in Texas due to the negligence of another party. Whether you have questions about the role of expert witnesses or want to learn more about filing your claim, our highly skilled and seasoned staff is here for you and yours.