Medical Expert Testimony in a Personal Injury Trials

Most lawyers use medical experts to testify in trials for a case in which a client has suffered an injury. A medical expert’s testimony can help juries understand the plaintiff’s injuries and the financial cost to put the plaintiff back in the position he or she was in before the injury. Opposing counsel typically will respond by putting their own medical expert on the stand to dispute the testimony of the plaintiff’s medical expert. To be considered a medical expert, the witness must first be qualified by knowledge, skill, experience, training or education. While this rule does not apply in state courts, a similar rule has been adopted by many states.