Expert Witnesses

Witness Testimony at Trial and how it could Help Your Personal Injury Case

April 20, 2019 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

A statute of Lady Justice In some instances, when you bring a claim for personal injuries, the at-fault party’s insurance company refuses to offer fair and reasonable compensation to settle. When that happens, you and your lawyer might decide to take the case to trial.

At a personal injury trial, credibility is extremely important. A witness who offers favorable testimony on your behalf could have an equally favorable impact on the trial result, translating into additional compensation for you. Some witnesses who testify at trial are lay witnesses, while others may be experts in a particular field.

If you have suffered injuries in an accident that was not your fault, you need an experienced personal injury lawyer representing you at all civil court proceedings, most especially at a jury trial. At Slappey & Sadd, LLC, the members of our Georgia legal team have been litigating personal injury cases and taking them to trial for many years. Our experienced lawyers try personal injury case all over Georgia, including in Fulton County, DeKalb County, Gwinnett County, Muscogee County, Newton County, Richmond County, Troup County, Walton County, and Whitfield County.

Am I Going to Need an Expert Witness? (Part 2 of 2)

March 15, 2019 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

An empty courtroom. n our prior post, we went over some of the basics regarding why and when you might need an expert witness. In this post, we’ll address some of the specifics concerning expert witnesses, including the important role attorneys play in making sure your expert witness is allowed to testify in court.

Georgia Law on Expert Witnesses

Generally speaking, an expert witness is someone who has a certain level of expertise in the subject matter at issue a case before the court. Georgia law, however, has specific requirements for someone to be considered an expert witness and allowed to testify as to their opinion in your case. In the event that specialized knowledge is required to prove your case, your witness will need to meet the following requirements to qualify as an expert witness:

Am I Going to Need an Expert Witness? (Part 1 of 2)

March 14, 2019 | by Slappey & Sadd, LLC

An empty courtroom In any personal injury case, you need to prove your case, and in many cases, this requires the testimony of an expert witness. The phrase “expert witness” may sound intimidating, especially to non-lawyers. We hope to alleviate your fears, but also help you understand how a lawyer can help you with proving your claim.

What is an Expert Witness?

In order to understand the role of an expert witness in your case, you need to first understand that, generally speaking, witnesses are not allowed to testify as to their opinions in court. For example, someone who saw an accident while standing on the sidewalk can testify to what they saw but is not permitted to testify as to whether or not they believe one of the drivers was speeding. Similarly, a woman’s husband who was present during his wife’s surgery will not be permitted to testify as to whether the doctor committed medical malpractice.