Expert witnesses must be knowledgeable in their field. It is important to not underestimate lawyers or their expertise. They must also be honest with their testimony and remain within their expertise. In this way, they can survive cross examination and thrive in the courtroom. They must also be familiar with the proper protocols and procedures in order to do this.
Experts are typically qualified by years of experience, publications, licensing, training, education, and licensing. Their qualifications can also be demonstrated by their peer recognition. They might be called upon to be consultants in a case or to testify at trial. However, their testimony is subject to discovery by the opposing party.
Expert witnesses can be a lucrative career for someone who is an expert in one area. Many of these people begin as part-time experts in a particular field, such as engineering, bridge building, or construction. As they get older, they might decide to quit their regular jobs and become expert witnesses.
In a case involving an animal, an expert witness can help identify the causes and duration of the animal’s suffering. An expert witness may also help parties determine whether they need to pursue litigation. An expert witness can also identify relevant documents. He or she can also help attorneys prepare questions to ask opposing counsel’s experts, which is useful in settlement negotiations.
Unreliable expert witness testimony can be excluded by a court. Federal Rules of Evidence require that expert witness testimony must be based upon sufficient facts and reliable principles. In addition, an expert witness must be independent. He or she must also address the court with his or her report. A court may also co-instruct an expert witness, but this occurs in small liability cases.
Expert witness physicians must be knowledgeable in the subject area. Otherwise, he or she may be biased. This means that the expert witness should be familiar with the standards and practices that were in use at the time of the incident. Additionally, an expert witness should be certified by the appropriate board in the state in which he or she practices.
Expert witnesses can charge substantial fees depending on their expertise. An example of this is civil engineers and tree experts charging $100-150 per hour. However, high-powered economists and medical experts can charge $400-500 an hour. Experts with a national reputation may charge up to $1,000 an hour. However, they should disclose any conflict of interest.
About Bill Hartzer
Bill Hartzer is CEO of Hartzer Consulting, a Texas-based search engine optimization and online reputation management consulting company. Mr. Hartzer has been providing digital marketing and domain name, as well as SEO expert witness services for legal cases worldwide, and practicing organic SEO since 1996.