When a motorcycle accident leads to life-changing injuries, the stakes couldn’t be higher for both victims and their families. The physical, emotional, legal, and financial consequences of a serious motorcycle accident can have a resounding impact on numerous facets of a victim’s life and fundamentally alter the way people engage with the world around them.
On the long road to recovery, many accident victims choose to pursue personal injury claims against negligent parties that contributed to their injuries. In a personal injury case, proving liability plays a vital role in ensuring victims recover the compensation they need to account for their losses. Because proving liability can be complicated under the stipulations of Tennessee law, the success of many motorcycle accident claims ultimately hinges upon expert testimony. Let’s take a brief look at the role expert witnesses play in a personal injury case and discuss how an experienced motorcycle accident attorney can leverage expert testimony into a positive case outcome.
What is an expert witness?
An expert witness is essentially a qualified professional who can offer specialized knowledge to support or clarify the facts of a legal case. In motorcycle crash claims, experts may be able to speak to the specific facts of how a crash unfolded, testify to the severity of a victim’s injuries, or speak to the long-term financial consequences of a catastrophic injury.
Unlike eyewitnesses, expert witnesses do not offer a firsthand account of an accident, but draw upon their training, education, and experience to illuminate certain facts about a case or add veracity to a victim’s account of an accident and its impact.
Examples of expert witnesses in motorcycle crash cases
Tennessee courts act as gatekeepers under Rules 702–703 and may exclude expert testimony if the expert lacks required qualifications or the methods/data are unreliable; potential bias is typically addressed on cross-examination and goes to weight, not admissibility. While many kinds of expert testimony can prove valuable in motorcycle crash cases, here are a few of the most common expert witnesses called to testify in these claims:
- Accident reconstructionists: These professionals use a combination of eyewitness testimony, data, and crash-site information to recreate the scene of a crash and demonstrate who was most likely at fault.
- Medical experts: Medical professionals are often called to testify as to the nature, severity, or prognosis of a victim’s injuries.
- Mental health professionals: Therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists may be called to testify to the long-term impact of an accident upon a victim’s mental health.
- Long-term care planners: These professionals may be asked to assess a victim’s future care needs in order to back up their claims for compensation.
- Economists: Economists are often brought in to help personal injury attorneys evaluate and calculate the combined economic toll of an accident and help victims settle on an appropriate damage amount to pursue in their case.
Any and all of these expert witnesses can play a crucial role in helping victims and their legal representatives demonstrate liability for an accident and build a strong case for compensation.
Does expert testimony actually strengthen a case?
In catastrophic injury claims, insurance companies and at-fault parties often attempt to challenge a victim’s account of an accident or their injuries. In a state like Tennessee that practices a modified comparative negligence system, it is crucial that accident victims fight back against these tactics in order to ensure they receive the full amount of compensation they deserve.
Under our comparative negligence statute, accident victims who are found to have contributed in any way to their own injuries will have their compensatory damages reduced in accordance with their level of fault. This makes it even more vital for victims and their representatives to lean on expert testimony in order to stave off potential claims of comparative fault.
When wielded appropriately, expert testimony can be used to help establish the cause of an accident, quantify the full extent of a victim’s losses, add credibility to other witness testimony, and make complex legal issues more accessible for jurors. Every layer of support that can be added in a case can increase a victim’s likelihood of a successful outcome.
Looking for an experienced Knoxville motorcycle accident attorney?
In catastrophic motorcycle crash claims, expert witnesses are more than a luxury – they can be a necessity. By building a strong team of legal representatives and trusted experts, motorcycle accident victims can rest assured knowing that their case is in good hands.
At Banks & Jones, we pride ourselves on providing comprehensive, compassionate care for victims of motorcycle accidents in Knoxville and the surrounding areas. We have ample experience identifying, prepping, and partnering with expert witnesses who can help support our clients’ claims and add valuable context in complex cases.
Our team is dedicated to meeting clients where they are while steering them in the right direction throughout their fight for justice, accountability, and compensation. If you or a loved one has suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of a Knoxville motorcycle accident, give us a call today to speak to a member of the Banks & Jones team. We are standing by to help you move forward and lay the foundation for a brighter future.
T. Scott knows the importance of interacting with colleagues to stay abreast of developments and changes in the legal world. T. Scott frequently teaches CLE courses on trial strategy, teaching other lawyers his methods for success in the courtroom, and is certified as a Rule 31 Mediator in the Tennessee Supreme Court. He is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the National Trial Lawyers, and both the Tennessee and American Associations for Justice.
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