Motor vehicle collisions cost Americans hundreds of billions of dollars every year. When you take into account non-economic costs like quality of life, that figure nears $1 trillion.
At the individual level, even a minor crash can result in tens of thousands of dollars in damages. Fortunately, in tort states like New Mexico, accident victims can hold the liable party financially accountable for their injuries.
Building a successful personal injury claim can be challenging, though, especially in cases when multiple parties may be at fault or the underlying cause of the wreck is unclear. At the end of the day, the outcomes of all personal injury claims come down to liability and damages.
If you can prove that the defendant was responsible for the incident that caused you harm and that you incurred damages as a direct result, you should be able to recover compensation. All kinds of evidence can be used to support a collision claim including eyewitness testimony, dash cam footage, photographs from the scene, surveillance camera footage, medical records, and official police reports.
There are also some circumstances in which claimants can strengthen their case by obtaining testimony from expert witnesses. If you were hurt in a crash that was not your fault and you think testimony from a medical expert could help you secure compensation, turn to The Law Office of Brian K. Branch, PC.
Our primary areas of focus include serious personal injury, premises liability, products liability, oilfield accidents, wrongful death, and insurance bad faith. Call 505-207-4401 to schedule a free case evaluation with a head injury attorney in Albuquerque.
When Does a Car Accident Claim Require Testimony from a Medical Expert?
When accident victims sustain superficial wounds that have a relatively quick recovery period, photographs and medical records may be all the proof they need to file a successful claim. When it comes to more complicated, disabling, or lasting injuries, though, securing enough compensation to cover all of the damages becomes inherently more challenging.
If you sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI), for example, you must not only take into account any past medical bills but also future therapy expenses, lost wages and benefits, and loss of earning capacity. Since such damages can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars, the insurance adjuster is unlikely to agree to a settlement that includes all of them unless you can provide irrefutable evidence of their extent. In such a scenario, it would be wise to obtain testimony from a medical expert who specializes in treating TBIs.
As PennyGeeks explains, car accident victims should seek testimony from a medical expert when the injuries they sustain:
- Require more than a few weeks of recovery time;
- Will affect their physical or mental health in a long-term or permanent way;
- Prevent them from returning to work for a significant period of time; or
- Prevent them from returning to work at all.
If you were hurt in a motor vehicle collision but are unsure how to find a medical witness who can contribute to your claim, contact The Law Office of Brian K. Branch, PC today. Call 505-207-4401 to schedule a free consultation with a head injury lawyer in Albuquerque. You can learn more about auto accident claims in New Mexico by visiting USAttorneys.com.