The Use of Medical Experts in Personal Injury Cases

Many forms of evidence and documentation can help you show you deserve compensation when filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit. Often, victims can strengthen their cases by coordinating with medical experts to provide testimony.

The specific way a medical professional can help with your case will depend on factors ranging from the severity of your injuries to whether you settle out-of-court or go to trial. Contact Munley Law today to learn more about how our network of medical experts can help when fighting for compensation in your personal injury case.

Why Medical Expert Testimony Is Critical to Your Case

The involvement of medical experts often determines whether a victim receives the full compensation they deserve for their injuries.

Depending on the circumstances, medical experts play many potential roles in personal injury cases. For instance, a medical expert may help build a personal injury case by testifying to the cause of a victim’s injuries. A physician or other medical professional can also speak to the extent of a victim’s injuries and how they affect their life. If a victim filing a personal injury claim seeks compensation for future losses (like future medical costs), a medical expert can explain how physical injuries will likely affect a victim later in life.

Medical experts can also simplify concepts that may be challenging to understand. This could be particularly helpful if you or your lawyers need to explain to a jury the way injuries or conditions affect you.

Build credibility for your claim. Contact Munley Law today for a free consultation to discuss how medical experts can strengthen your case.

Types of Medical Experts Who Can Support Your Case

There isn’t just one type of medical expert who might provide testimony in a personal injury case. Types of medical experts who may play a role in a case like yours include:

• Treating physicians
• Independent medical evaluators
• Any relevant medical specialists (neurologists, orthopedists, etc.)
• Life care planners
• Mental health professionals
• You don’t have to coordinate with all these medical experts yourself when building a case. A personal injury lawyer can determine when medical expert testimony is necessary, and they can connect you with the right professionals for your needs.

Leverage expert witness testimony to your advantage when seeking compensation with a personal injury lawsuit or claim. Let Munley Law connect you with the right medical experts for your specific injury case.

Qualifications That Make a Compelling Medical Expert

A medical expert’s qualifications and credentials can influence the degree to which everyone, from the insurance company to a judge, considers their testimony valuable. Hiring a genuinely qualified expert is essential, as the other side may be looking for any opportunities to challenge the expert testimony you present. Types of qualifications that can determine whether a medical expert offers truly compelling professional insights include:

• Academic credentials and board certifications
• Years of clinical experience
• Research and publications
• Previous expert testimony experience

Don’t worry if you’re not sure where to start when looking for medical professionals to offer expert testimony for your case. Trust Munley Law’s network of highly qualified medical experts to support your claim.

How Medical Experts Help Prove Damages

Proving damages through evidence and documentation is essential in a personal injury case. The insurance company or liable party may justify offering a low settlement (or not offering a settlement at all) if your claim doesn’t include proper documentation of your losses and struggles.

Medical experts can help prove damages by:

• Documenting the injuries you have already sustained and the treatment you have undergone or will need to undergo
• Assessing what your future medical care needs may be based on your current injuries
• Evaluating the potential long-term impact on quality of life
• Determining how injuries sustained due to someone else’s actions or negligence may limit your earning capacity
• Showing how injuries were most likely caused can be helpful when an insurer or liable party attempts to avoid liability by suggesting you were injured in a separate incident
• Providing objective documentation of your struggles so that no one has to “take your word for it” when you explain the way your injuries affect you on a day-to-day basis

The exact role medical experts may play in your case can depend on the specific details of said case. Schedule your free case evaluation with Munley Law to learn how medical experts can help maximize your compensation.

The Medical Expert’s Role in Court

The personal injury litigation process sometimes requires going to court to fight for damages. A personal injury lawyer can determine when filing a lawsuit is necessary.

A medical professional can also provide testimony for the court that may affect the outcome of your case. Examples include:

• Preparing written reports and documentation of injuries sustained
• Providing deposition testimony before a trial
• Helping you and your personal injury attorneys prepare for questions the other side may ask that touch on medical topics
• Offering expert testimony to help the jury better understand complex medical subjects

At Munley Law, experts in personal injury cases appreciate the critical role medical professionals can play when cases go to trial. Our experienced trial attorneys work seamlessly with medical experts to present your case effectively.

Countering Defense Medical Experts

A medical expert doesn’t just help a victim build a case. In some instances, a personal injury lawyer may enlist the help of a medical professional to counter the defense’s strategies. Consider the following examples:

• Establishing bias in defense medical examinations: Sometimes, the liable party, the insurance company, or the liable party’s attorneys may ask claimants to submit to “independent” medical examinations (via physicians the insurance company approves of, typically) to provide insight into the nature and extent of their injuries. Although the physicians performing these examinations are supposed to be objective, there are instances when it’s possible to show that a doctor may have been biased toward the insurer or other such party. A professional with relevant specialized knowledge can help establish when bias appears to have interfered with the results of an examination.
• Challenging credibility: Sometimes, a medical expert can challenge the credibility of witnesses the defense coordinates with. For example, the defense may have enlisted the help of an “expert” who doesn’t possess sufficient experience or qualifications. A victim’s lawyer could work with their medical expert to present an argument indicating why the defense’s “experts” aren’t qualified to provide testimony.
• Presenting conflicting medical opinions: Medical topics can be complex. It’s not uncommon for two different physicians to arrive at different conclusions regarding, for instance, the ideal treatment for a patient. Thus, when any party presents medical testimony or opinions in a personal injury case, that doesn’t necessarily mean those opinions are ironclad. A medical expert can be brought in to offer a conflicting view when you or your lawyers disagree with the medical opinions of the defense or their witnesses.

Let Munley Law handle communications with medical professionals regarding your case. We’ll protect your interests when dealing with insurance company medical experts.