Securing an Expert Witness: Saving Time and Resources

Medical expert witnesses continue to play a crucial role in litigation regarding medical malpractice and personal injury matters. Medical experts are often called upon to provide opinions regarding the cause of injuries, the extent of damages, and the appropriateness of medical treatment. Their testimony can help to establish liability, support or challenge damages claims, and provide insight into complex medical issues. In some cases, the testimony of a medical expert can be critical to the successful outcome of a case.  

With the medical experts playing such an essential role for each side of the argument, attorneys must have access to the best expert witnesses in their field. Attorneys may find medical experts through various methods, including personal referrals, online directories, professional organizations, and expert witness referral services.  

Successfully securing an expert, particularly in complex and specialized medical issues, can be challenging and time-consuming, even for most veteran attorneys. The time it takes to do so varies based on the type of expert needed. It also requires a thorough understanding of the experts' credentials, experience, and knowledge. Expert witness referral services, such as those of Homestead Medical Experts, help significantly reduce the time spent by attorney and staff to secure expert options and improves the overall accuracy of the attorney's expert options when under review.  

Considerations for securing an expert witness

• Defining the role of the expert in the proceedings: Will the expert be used in a consulting capacity or commenting on liability/deviations from the stands of care? Will the expert provide an Independent Medical Evaluation? Commenting on damages? Will they be involved in depositions/testimony?
• The expert's credentials: The expert should have the necessary training, education, and experience to provide a reliable and trusted opinion.
• The expert's specializations and board certifications: The expert should have specialized knowledge in the area of medicine relevant to the case. Further, they should be qualified to be admitted as an expert in a given jurisdiction.
• Experience as an expert witness: An expert with experience in medicolegal matters will be better equipped to provide an informed and reliable written and oral opinion.
• Expert's reputation: The attorney's research into the expert witness option should include the expert's background, publications and previous cases. Answering questions like "Is the expert's license in good standing?"?
• Availability: Can they complete reviews and reports within the case timelines? Will they be available to provide testimony in court?
• Expert fees: The cost of a medical expert witness can vary significantly based on credentials and experience. Understanding the case type and the experts' fees upfront can help avoid surprises.
• Save time: Searching for an expert witness is often time-consuming. An expert referral service can help you save time by providing a shortlist of qualified experts within your criteria.
• Managing costs: Expert witness referral services can help you manage costs by providing a range of experts at different price points while trying to find an expert who fits your budget.
• Support: Referral services such as Homestead Medical Experts provides support throughout the process, from finding the expert to monitoring the time/expenses in completing a review, to coordinating depositions/testimony. Our case managers are helping ensure that everything runs smoothly and that the expert's prepared to provide service on time and within budget.

Controlling Expert's Costs & Benefits of Organized Records

Controlling an expert witness's expenses includes determining the expert's fee schedule, the work required of the expert and the anticipated need for depositions and testimony, and the time it takes an expert to complete a review and report for the attorney. Sometimes, the medical records are minimal and perhaps with little difficulty. However, in most matters, the medical records can extend to thousands of pages, with treatment being provided over the years, leading to the need for litigation. In those instances, providing an expert with thoroughly indexed records is critical to providing an accurate, concise, and complete review in minimal time for the expert.    

Leaving an expert to index and review thousands of medical records at their hourly review rate can leave the attorney with costly additional expenses. However, by providing the records in an organized, indexed, digitized manner, the expert can produce a complete review without the extra expense of sorting through unorganized records. Relying on experienced providers such as Wisedocs can help avoid those unnecessary costs while providing the firm with easy access to documents from the initial review through court proceedings to a successful settlement.  

Expert Witness referral services coupled with Medical Chronology companies, such as Homestead Medical Experts and Wisedocs, can work together to help expedite a quality medical review and expert opinion for an attorney.  

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If you'd like Homestead Medical Experts' help finding an expert, please contact them at info@homesteadexperts.com or call (877) 244-3703.