When bringing a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of a loved one who has passed, you might not know something crucial to your case, even with good legal representation. The circumstances surrounding a particular accident or injury could be complex and technical, requiring explanation from expert witnesses.
You will want your attorney to be familiar with the use of experts in Columbia, MO wrongful death cases, which is where the AW Smith Law Firm can help. Our experienced wrongful death attorneys can guide you to experts helpful to your case and how they can support your claim.
Expert witnesses could provide insight and proof about what happened when you bring a wrongful death claim based on a tragic accident. However, there are some laws to consider.
One of the first things you should consider when bringing a claim is that only certain people, such as a spouse, child, or other family member of the deceased, can bring the action on behalf of the one who has died. Expert witnesses may not affect your eligibility to bring a claim, but you should determine whether you can sue before attempting to file.
You must bring your suit within the statute of limitations, which limits filing a lawsuit too many years after an event. Per Missouri Revised Statutes § 537.100, you have three years from the time of death to file your action or risk losing the right to sue at all for a wrongful death. Moving quickly to hire legal counsel from AW Smith Law Firm, gathering evidence, and securing expert witnesses in Columbia to use in your case may be crucial to getting a lawsuit filed in time, depending on the circumstances.
Whether your wrongful death case will rely on expert evidence and how much will depend on what happened to cause the death. An accident might require the assistance of an expert to make a judge or jury understand the details of what happened, including who caused the accident and how.
For example, a mechanic could testify about a failed safety mechanism when a car accident ends in death. Death due to dangerous prescription or over-the-counter drugs, however, might require a completely different type or set of experts. In that case, a doctor might provide a medical opinion, and you might need a chemist or engineer to describe the product, its manufacture, and its effects.
The person or entity you sue in Columbia might use their own experts to counter yours, increasing the complexity of a wrongful death case. Fortunately, an attorney from A.W. Smith Law Firm can take the lead in finding experts to provide evidence, testify, and strategize how to deal with opposing experts.
Experts can add details and simplify complex concepts during your wrongful death lawsuit. Depending on the key issues in your case, you might bring in one or more experts to bolster your argument and get the compensation you deserve.
Communicating with your attorney about the use of experts in Columbia, MO wrongful death cases can help you prepare for the litigation process both before and during trial. Call our offices for a free consultation on your case,
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