How to Hire the Right Expert Witness
Expert witnesses are professionals who hold the fate of court cases in their hands. Their professional insight can decide how a judge or jury views the information they’re given, and they can bring forward definitive evidence that changes the outcome.
How do you pick which one you hire, though?
Here are the top things to consider before making your choice and how they’ll affect the case.
Start Looking Earlier
When you think you’re going to need an expert witness, you need to start researching ones that fit what you want. The main reason for this is that most will want at least a couple of weeks before the court case to study up and ensure they have the information necessary to help your case. This will also give you a better chance at catching a good expert witness before they agree to work on a different topic instead of yours. Look early, and let them know you’re interested.
Consider Your Budget
Before you try to hire an economic expert: make sure you know what you can afford. The average expert witness costs around $250 an hour, and it can go up from there if they’re a medical expert or have some specialized training along those lines. Although you may get the other party in the court case to cover the court fees if you win, you should be careful if you can’t afford much. You don’t want to end up in severe debt if you do lose the case.
Look For Relevant Qualifications
What qualifications does this expert witness have? Are they proficient in a particular line of work? Do they have training that pertains to the case? Is there an educational background that could help decide your court case? Most expert witnesses either have training, knowledge, experience, education, or skill that allows them to answer questions some other people may not be able to answer.
Request Publications and References
Consider this interaction as you hiring them for a role. Treat it like an interview, and ask for references and any publications they may have made. This information will allow you to understand them better, see some of their skills in action, and find out what other people think of them. If they refuse to offer any of this information, you should move onto the next possibility. This witness may hold the key to whether you win or lose your case; you can’t leave it up to a guess that they might know what they’re doing.
Meet In Person To Check For Charisma
Although it would be great if facts and information decided court cases, it’s not always the case. It would help if you met with the witness in person to decide whether or not they’re a good fit for you. Check if they can maintain eye contact, if they’re personable and if they seem confident in their knowledge. Do they say ‘um’ a lot? Do you notice they seem constantly distracted? They might not be who you want to call on in court. Although not everyone is excellent in front of a crowd, if you’re hiring them to help decide the fate of your case, you need to make sure they’re someone who will help.
