The Importance of Expert Witnesses in Drug-Impaired Accident Cases

• January 25, 2025
• Attorney David Mann
• Car Accidents

If you have been injured in a car accident where the negligent party was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you are probably feeling angry.  The other party made a conscious decision to drive while intoxicated or high and you, an innocent party, were seriously injured.  You are determined to hold that person accountable for their actions and seek compensation through a personal injury claim.  Your lawyer may tell you that he will probably hire an expert witness to provide testimony on your claim.  Or your lawyer may tell you that an expert for the other side will likely question your version of events. In this blog post we will discuss the importance of expert witnesses in drug-impaired accident cases.

Types of Expert Witnesses in Drug-Impaired Accident Cases

There are many types of expert witnesses that can be hired to testify in a drug-impaired accident case.  The most common experts we have seen include:

• Toxicology Experts – These types of experts are common in drug-impaired accident cases because they focus on the amount of alcohol in a person’s body.  They can work for the plaintiff or defendant.  A toxicologist can testify about the presence of alcohol in the plaintiff’s blood and discuss the effects of drugs and alcohol on a person’s body and decision making.
• Accident Reconstruction Experts – Accident reconstruction experts analyze the scene of the accident and discuss the circumstances that led to the accident.  This type of expert can show how fast the other person was driving and how they were acting reckless when they caused the accident.
• Mental Health Professional Experts – A mental health professional can testify about your pain and suffering after an accident.  Also, they can discuss their treatment of the defendant for drug- and alcohol-related issues.
• Medical Experts – A medical expert can testify as to the extent of your injuries that were caused by the negligent party.  They can also testify about the rehabilitation process needed to recover from your type of injuries.

How Expert Witnesses Can Strengthen Your Case

Expert witnesses can be a vital part of the strategy in your personal injury case.  Experts have detailed knowledge about a specific topic, and their professional opinion can go a long way with a jury or even in settlement negotiations with insurance companies.  Specific ways in which experts can strengthen your case are:

• Showing Causation – An expert witness can show the court how specific actions by the defendant caused the accident.  In a drug-related car accident case, an expert can provide a detailed explanation of how the drugs in the defendant’s system caused them to act recklessly.
• Validating Your Claims – An expert can explain to the jury their opinion on any legal matter and break down the issue into layman’s terms.  An expert can give credibility to your personal injury claims.
• Calculating Damages – The most important part of your case is proving that you deserve to be compensated for your injuries.  An expert can be brought in to show the jury the amount you should be compensated and why.  They can discuss the amount of time you may miss work and the salary you would have made in the future if not for the accident.
• Persuasiveness – Lawyers can argue back and forth about the guilt and innocence of the negligent party.  But when an expert testifies, the members of the jury will see them as a neutral party who proves claims with their professional opinion.  This can go a long way in persuading the jury.

Choosing the Right Expert Witnesses

If you research online for an expert witness, you will see that there are thousands to choose from.  You may feel overwhelmed trying to decide who is the best expert for your specific case.  It is a very important decision, one that could determine the outcome of your claim.  It is also a decision best left to your attorney, who likely has firsthand experience with expert testimony in a court case.  Below are important factors to consider.

• Start the Search Early on the Case – After meeting with your attorney, they will have an understanding of the type of experts you will need for your claim.  Starting the search early will not only pinpoint the appropriate expert, but will ensure they are available.  Also, hiring the best expert witness early can mean that the defense will not be able to use the same expert.
• Research experience and qualifications – It is important to fully research an expert before you hire them, to make sure that they don’t have any past issues or problems that the defense can bring up at trial.  For example, it would be a problem if their expert witness testimony has been thrown out in previous cases or if their medical license has been suspended in the past.  It may be necessary to hire a private investigator.  Part of the research would also be to gather articles and books written by the expert.
• Get a recommendation – Your lawyer has probably worked with experts in the past and will usually recommend an expert who provided excellent testimony.  They may also get references from colleagues.

Choosing an expert witness can be difficult, and we hope this blog post helped in seeing the importance of expert witnesses in drug-impaired accident cases.

Contact the Mann Law Firm Today to Discuss Your Drug-Impaired Accident Case

The Mann Law Firm has over 30 years of experience fighting for the rights of clients who have been injured in drug-impaired cases.  Also, we have hired highly qualified expert witnesses for jury trials and settlement negotiations and can recommend them for your case.  Our attorneys understand the importance of hiring the right expert for your case.

Give us a call today at (478) 742-3381 for a free consultation.  We don’t get paid unless you collect compensation.  At the Mann Law Firm, you always come first.