The Role of Medical Experts in Proving Brain Injury Claims
Brain injuries are some of the most serious you can face after an accident. To seek compensation for those injuries, they often require medical experts to testify at a hearing or trial. Understanding their role can help you understand the personal injury process as a whole.
At High Stack Law, our skilled Florida personal injury lawyers utilize medical experts to help prove how your brain injuries occurred, who is at fault, and the extent of your injuries. Our team helps you pursue the compensation you deserve after a serious accident.
Brain Injury Claims in Florida Accident Cases
Brain injuries are often some of the most difficult to prove. Other injuries are much more visible, such as broken bones or wounds. Brain damage and traumatic brain injuries often seem invisible, but are no less serious. They can affect your cognitive abilities, ability to control your emotions, and even lead to psychological problems. Some of these injuries progress over time, and you may not notice them at first.
Both defense attorneys and insurance companies will try to challenge any allegations of brain injuries. They may say they are exaggerated, non-existent, or existed prior to the accident. A medical expert becomes especially important for these reasons.
What Types of Medical Experts Might I Need in my Brain Injury Case?
There are many types of doctors that may be necessary to help prove your case:
- Neurologists: These doctors treat and diagnose brain disorders, and issues with the nervous system. At trial, they may testify to any cognitive defects or neurological damage you suffered.
- Neurosurgeons: A neurosurgeon may provide testimony about procedures you underwent or they performed.
- Neuropsychologists: A neuropsychologist will testify about evaluations of your memory, emotional regulation, and much more.
- Radiologists: Radiologists tell the jury about your CT scans, MRIs, and other imaging in interpreting your brain injuries.
- Rehabilitation Specialists: A rehabilitation specialist can talk about your long-term recovery needs and treatments.
Why Are Medical Experts Important to my Personal Injury Claim?
Medical experts do a lot to help prove your case, but the following are some of the main reasons they are so important.
1. Establishing Causation
A medical expert helps connect the accident to the injury itself. They tell the jury why they know the accident caused the injury, and this is a critical element of your personal injury claim.
2. Showing the Severity of Your Injuries
The doctor will talk about how serious your injuries are. They will utilize scans and other evidence to prove how badly you were hurt.
3. Explaining Symptoms
Medical terminology and tests are hard to decipher for the jury. A good expert can translate these terms and jargon into evidence the jury understands.
4. Discussing Long-Term Effects
An expert can talk about how the symptoms affect the victim now and in the future. This is highly significant to the amount of damages the jury might award.
5. Proving Medical Damages and Non-Economic Harm
Doctors testify about the costs of your medical treatment, how the injuries will affect your life, and the long-term impacts on you as a person. This helps justify the amount of money you are asking for in your personal injury claim.
How Does My Attorney Choose Which Expert to Use?
Even the greatest doctors may not be the best witnesses. Choosing the right expert who knows how to testify well can make a big difference in your case.
Attorneys typically select experts with:
- Board certifications
- Clinical experience
- Direct experienced with brain injury treatment
- A past history providing expert testimony in court
- Strong communication skills
- Credibility while answering questions from the opposing attorney
Learn More About How Medical Experts Can Help With Your Claim
Medical experts are usually necessary to help prove your brain injury claim. They testify as to the medical records in your case, how the injury was caused, and the damages you suffered as a result. Their specialized knowledge is useful to the jury or judge in determining what happened to you and why.
Consult a Florida personal injury attorney at High Stack Law for help. Contact us today for a consultation of your case.