Those who have suffered a serious personal injury understand the expenses involved, the impact on family and career, and the prospect of lifetime impairment. A personal injury lawsuit offers the opportunity to recoup many of the costs from one or more at-fault parties. Most plaintiffs understand that they have bear the burden of proof in these cases, but what is less understood is the important role that expert witnesses play in meeting this burden – and the costs involved.

Expert witnesses needed to prove a personal injury case

Even if you can do a great job describing the impact that an injury has had on your life, there are many situations where you will not be legally allowed to continue a lawsuit without hiring an expert witness. This is often the case when the lawsuit involves an allegation that a defendant committed professional negligence.

In other situations, an expert may not be strictly required but will greatly improve the jury’s understanding of how the accident occurred or how great the impact will be in the long-term.

Some of the experts often employed in a personal injury lawsuit include:

• Medical expert to explain injury
• Accident reconstructionist to demonstrate liability issues
• Engineers to explain defects in things or places
• Medical billing experts
• Accountants
• Psychologists related to mental injuries
• Vocational experts

Paying for expert witnesses in litigation

Experts, more often than not, are highly-trained professionals and can come with a considerable price tag. With fees nationwide averaging $350 and hour for an initial review, up to $475 an hour for courtroom testimony (and in many industries the rates can be much, much higher), it is common to accumulate fee bills in the tens of thousands of dollars.Many plaintiffs are attracted to firms that offer contingency fee arrangements because the client does not need to pay legal bills unless and until they win a verdict or settlement. However, expert fees may be advanced by the firm, but these are often recouped in addition to a contingency fee. And they are owed even if the case is lost.

Putting your best case on trial with expert witnesses

It is no surprise that limiting the amount spent on expert witness fees are one of the major pressures that tempt personal injury victims to take a low settlement rather than go to trial. Legal funding can relieve this pressure, allowing you to fight for fair compensation.

Obtaining a legal loan can give a plaintiff the financial relief needed to see a case through. It allows parties to meet family financial obligations while fighting for justice.

Legal loans are no-risk and no-obligation for the recipient – they are advances on future settlements. This means if you win your case, you can pay your loan back, plus reasonable interest, out of your settlement. But if you do not win your case, there is no need to repay.

Speak with LawStreet Capital to find out whether a legal funding cash advance is right for you. The process is quick and easy – no credit checks, no hidden fees, and money can be available within 24 hours of approval.

Additional expert witness cost resources:

1. The Expert Institute, Expert Witness Fee Report: Facts, Figures & Trends In 2017, https://www.theexpertinstitute.com/expert-witness-fee-report-facts-figures-trends-in-2017/
2. SEAK, Expert Witness Fee Study, https://www.seak.com/expert-witness-fee-study/