Qualified Expert WitnessesQualified Expert Witnesses
Expert witnesses should be well-versed in their field. It is important to not underestimate lawyers or their expertise. They should also remain honest in their testimony and stay within their area of expertise. In this way, they can survive cross examination and thrive in the courtroom. For this, they must be prepared to follow the proper protocol and procedures.
Experts are typically qualified by years of experience, publications, licensing, training, education, and licensing. Peer recognition can also prove their qualifications. 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.
A person who is an expert in a specific area can find a lucrative career as an expert witness. Many of these experts start as part-time experts within a specific field such as engineering, bridge construction, or construction. As they get older, they might decide to quit their regular jobs and become expert witnesses.
An expert witness can help determine the causes and durations of suffering in a case involving an animal. An expert witness may also help parties determine whether they need to pursue litigation. An expert witness can also identify relevant documents. An expert witness can help attorneys prepare questions to ask opposing counsel’s specialists, which is helpful in settlement negotiations.
A court can choose to exclude unreliable expert witness testimony. Federal Rules of Evidence require that expert witness testimony must be based upon sufficient facts and reliable principles. An expert witness must also 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.
A physician expert witness must be well-versed in the area of medicine at issue. 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. For example, civil engineers or tree experts may charge $100-150 an hour, while high-powered economists or medical experts can charge $400-500 per hour. Experts with a national reputation may charge up to $1,000 an hour. However, they must disclose any conflicts 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.