Expert witnesses must be knowledgeable in their field. However, it is important that they not underestimate attorneys or their expertise. They must also be honest with their testimony and remain within their expertise. They will be able to survive cross-examination and thrive in courtroom. They must also be familiar with the proper protocols and procedures in order to do this.
Experts are usually qualified by their years of experience, published works, licensing, training, and education. Their qualifications can also be demonstrated by their peer recognition. They may be called upon as consultants in a case, or they may be called to testify at trial. Their testimony can be discovered 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.
In a case involving an animal, an expert witness can help identify the causes and duration of the animal’s suffering. An expert witness can help parties decide whether 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.
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. In addition, an expert witness must be independent. Moreover, he or she must address his or her report in the court. A court can also co-instruct expert witnesses, but only in cases with small liability.
Expert witness physicians must be knowledgeable in the subject area. Otherwise, he or she may be biased. Expert witnesses should be familiar with current standards and practices at the time of the incident. An expert witness should also be certified by the appropriate board of the state where he or she practices.
Expert witnesses can charge a substantial fee depending on their field of 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 can charge as much as $1,000 per 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.