How Are Witnesses Used in a Personal Injury Claim?

 Posted on November 30, 2020 in Personal Injury

 Personal injury claims are used to pursue compensation for injuries caused by another party’s wrongful, reckless, or negligent actions. There are four main components to a successful personal injury claim. You and your attorney will need to show that you were owed a duty of care by the defendant, the defendant breached the duty, your injuries were caused by the defendant’s breach of duty, and you sustained damages. To prove each of these elements, you and your attorney may use a variety of techniques and resources. One of these resources is testimony from witnesses. Read on to learn about the different types of witnesses that may be involved in your personal injury claim and how they may help you demonstrate the elements needed to win your case.

Eyewitnesses to the Accident

Incident witnesses or lay witnesses are people who witness your accident happen. They may be used to confirm the series of events that took place and explain what happened from their perspective. Whether your injuries were caused in a car accident, slip and fall accident, dog attack, or another type of accident, eyewitness statements may be used to corroborate your testimony. Your lawyer can help you locate and obtain testimony from eyewitnesses.  

Expert Witnesses

Expert witnesses are individuals who are authorities in a particular field that offer insight and professional opinions about the facts of a case. Testimony from an expert witness can significantly strengthen your claim. Expert witnesses may provide testimony in court or they may serve as consulting experts who help clarify complex issues in your case. Some of the most common types of expert witnesses in Illinois personal injury claims include:

• Accident Reconstructionists: Accident reconstruction experts are individuals who know how to interpret vehicle data, traffic information, road design, and other information to recreate the circumstances of an accident. They may use computer programs, models, and illustrations, and other tools to describe how an accident occurred. Accident reconstructionists are often used to prove how a defendant’s actions or inaction led to an accident.
• Medical Experts: A medical professional such as a doctor, surgeon, physical therapist, or mental health expert may offer insight about an injured person’s injuries and prognosis. They may be used to confirm the severity of a plaintiff’s injuries and explain how the injuries will affect his or her ability to work and perform everyday tasks.  
• Financial experts: Accountants or other financial experts may offer information about the financial consequences of a plaintiff’s injuries. If your injuries negatively influenced your ability to do your job and earn a living, a financial expert may be used to calculate the financial harm caused by your injuries.

Contact a Joliet Personal Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your damages. To learn more, contact a Will County, IL personal injury attorney from Schwartz Injury Law. Call us at 815-723-7300 and schedule a free, confidential consultation today.

Source:

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/traffic-crash-reconstructionist-job-information-974477