Hiring a Medical Expert for Your Personal Injury Claim
Posted Friday, July 17, 2020 by Chris Thayer
The U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics’ research indicates that over 50% of all cases presented in civil matters relate to personal injuries resulting from another person’s negligence. Interestingly, only 4% of these cases actually end up in front of a judge at a trial, as the majority are settled outside of the courtroom through negotiations with insurance companies. Learn how hiring a medical expert for your personal injury claim can ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve for your medical bills, pain and suffering and loss of wages resulting from your inability to return to work.
*What is a Medical Expert Witness? *If you have been injured in a personal injury accident, you may wonder why you need an expert to testify regarding your injuries if you have already seen a medical professional and received an official diagnosis or course of medical treatment. Unfortunately, in personal injury cases, insurance companies tend to try to avoid paying appropriate and just settlement offers to victims, and therefore, will claim that a victim’s injury is not as severe or catastrophic as they claim. Therefore, a medical expert witness, which is typically a medical professional such as a surgeon or doctor, will offer independent and unbiased testimony regarding the injuries suffered by a victim. Medical experts can, therefore, provide testimony after evaluating the injuries and medical records of a victim by answering questions regarding the following:
- The extent of victim’s injury
- Whether the medical treatment the victim received was, in fact, appropriate
- Future medical costs
- Timeline for the improvement or deterioration of overall health related to the injury
- The future decrease in earning capacity as a result of the injury
- Possible reduction in either work or life expectancy as a result of the injury
- Confirm a permanent or temporary disability determination
*Reasons to Hire a Medical Expert *Judges and juries do not have medical experience and will need the advice of a neutral third-party such as a medical expert. However, because most cases do not go to trial, if an insurance company knows that you already have a medical expert willing to testify on your behalf that your injuries are as severe as you and your doctor claim, they will be more willing to provide a fair and just settlement without going to trial.
*Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney *If you suffered injuries related to an accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may have to hire an expert witness to testify on your behalf regarding the injuries you suffered. Our experienced personal injury attorneys have the ability to hire expert medical witnesses on your behalf and build a strong personal injury case so that you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses. Contact Pivotal Law Group at 206-340-2008 and visit with one of our experienced attorneys. We proudly serve the Seattle, Bellevue, Kent, Renton, Burien, Mercer Island, and Issaquah areas.