If you are involved in a personal injury case, there may come a time when you need to bring in a rehabilitation expert witness. This expert can help assess the extent of your injuries and how they are likely to impact your life going forward. They can also offer recommendations for treatment and rehabilitation.
What is a rehabilitation expert witness?
A rehabilitation expert witness, also known as an expert medical witness, is typically a doctor who has extensive experience in treating injuries. They are called on to give evidence in court about the likely long term impact of someone’s injury on their life and how it will affect them going forward. Rehabilitation expert witnesses can come from many different backgrounds, including orthopedics or emergency medicine. For very severe cases involving head injuries, neurosurgeons may be asked to provide expert testimony.
When might I need to hire a rehabilitation expert witness?
Rehabilitation expert witnesses are needed when there is controversy around your disability following an accident. For example, if you have suffered brain damage following an accident that left you in a coma for a month, your insurance company may dispute the severity of your injuries. In this case, you would need to bring in a rehabilitation expert witness to testify on your behalf.
Your lawyer may also recommend hiring an expert witness if you have a complex medical history and there is some doubt about which injuries are related to the accident. For example, if you suffer from both chronic pain and depression, it may be difficult to determine which condition was caused by the accident. In this case, a rehabilitation expert witness could help clear up any confusion.
What can a rehabilitation expert witness do?
A rehabilitation expert witness can provide detailed testimony about your injury and the likely impact it will have on your life. They can also offer suggestions for treatment and rehabilitation, both in the short and long term. Rehabilitation expert witnesses commonly give testimony in three areas:
Expert witnesses can testify about your injury in general and its impact on your daily life, how much your injuries will cost in future medical care, and what type of treatment you should receive to recover from the injuries.
What types of evidence do I need to provide?
To use a rehabilitation expert witness, you must be able to show that your injury is real and has caused lasting damage to your life. You can provide this evidence by talking with family and friends who can describe how they have seen your health decline since the accident. This evidence could include:
- The extent of any physical disabilities you suffer from
- The amount of time you have had to take off work or school
- How the injury has affected your personal life, including your ability to socialize or travel
- Any medical bills or other documents that support your claim
If you are able to provide this type of evidence, your lawyer will be able to hire a rehabilitation expert witness who can help make your case.
If you are considering hiring a rehabilitation expert witness for your case, contact Reliable Clinical Experts today! We can help to connect you with the best expert for your case.
