Calgary personal injury cases, including those that arise from serious car accidents, can be complex affairs. First, the plaintiff need to demonstrate that the defendant was at fault for the accident that caused their injuries, which isn’t always as easy as you might think. Second, the plaintiff needs to prove the extent of the injuries they suffered in the car crash and the effect those injuries had on their life. When those effects—ongoing medical treatments and bills, lost time at work and reduced productivity, general loss of capabilities and pain—can last for months, years, or even a lifetime, proving the full cost can be very difficulty.
Expert witnesses are used in many Calgary car accident cases to establish fault for an accident (what the law calls “negligence” and “liability”), and to help demonstrate both the financial and non-financial impact of serious injuries caused in an accident. Their expertise makes them reliable advisors and, at in some cases, compelling witnesses in front of a Calgary judge and/or jury. If you or a family member has been seriously injured in a car accident and is pursuing a personal injury case, it is very possible that experts will be called in at various points as your case progresses.
You don’t need to worry about identifying and contacting experts to help you with your personal injury case, though. When you partner with an experienced Calgary personal injury lawyer, your legal team will determine if and when expert opinions and witnesses are needed, and will take care of coordinating these experts and ensuring you put forth the strongest case possible.
Here are a few of the different types of experts your personal injury lawyer might reach out to following a car accident in Calgary.
Accident Reconstruction Experts
One type of expert who may advise in a Calgary car accident case is an accident reconstruction expert. These advisers bring your case extensive engineering knowledge and specific training and experience when it comes to determining how an accident took place. By reconstructing the chain of events that led to an accident, these experts can be useful in establishing negligence—showing who is at fault for an accident—and showing the force that was applied in an accident that may have led to serious injuries.
Highway and Road Safety Experts
An accident reconstruction expert focuses on the physics and engineering aspects of a Calgary car crash. Your personal injury lawyer may also want to consult with a highway safety expert, who can provide expert input regarding road and traffic conditions that might have contributed to an accident. Road conditions can have an impact on the duty of care drivers owe each other and the driving behaviour they ought to exhibit; testimony from a safety expert may more clearly establish negligence and recklessness in some cases.
Your Calgary Car Accident Lawyer Will Speak to ALL Witnesses
Remember, your don’t need to worry about expert witnesses on your own. Like most other details of your case, witnesses are something your Calgary personal injury lawyer will handle. If you’ve recently been injured in a car accident and would like a free initial consultation, please contact our office today.