Expert witnesses must be knowledgeable in their field. It is important to not underestimate lawyers 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 typically qualified by years of experience,publications,licensing,training,education,and licensing. 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. 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 people begin as part-time experts in a particular field,such as engineering,bridge building,or construction. Then,as they grow older,they may choose to retire from their regular careers and become full-time 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.

Unreliable expert witness testimony can be excluded by a court. Federal Rules of Evidence stipulate that the expert witness’ opinion must be based on sufficient facts and reliable principles. An expert witness must also be independent. Moreover,he or she must address his or her report in the court. 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. Expert witnesses should be familiar with current standards and practices 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. 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 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.