Considering an Expert for Personal Injury Cases
Responsible experts: Matthew R. Putts, Ph.D. (Chief of Vocational Services); Christina Rivera, R.N., B.S.N. (Life Care Planner); Christopher Skerritt, M.Ed., MBA (Chief of Economic Services) · Last updated
Before retaining a vocational, life care planning, or economic expert in a personal injury case, evaluate whether earning capacity, future care, or household services losses are meaningfully contested and at what magnitude.
Checklist
- Quantify the likely magnitude of future losses
- Identify which damages categories are actually disputed
- Budget for expert engagement
- Confirm expert availability against case calendar
Questions to ask the expert
- Is earning capacity contested, or will stipulated figures suffice?
- Is the future care need significant enough to warrant a life care plan?
- What is the expert's admissibility history in this injury type?
Timeline
1-3 weeks between first consideration and engagement.
Required documents
- Injury severity summary
- Preliminary damages estimate
- Expert CVs for candidates under consideration
Common pitfalls
- Retaining experts prematurely on soft-tissue cases where damages are small
- Delaying retention past the records completion point
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all personal injury cases need a vocational expert?
No. The test is whether earning capacity is meaningfully contested and whether the magnitude warrants expert involvement.
References
- Federal Rules of Evidence (Cornell LII)Government
Ready to Get Started on personal injury cases?
Contact KWVRS to discuss scope, timing, and the deliverables appropriate to the matter. Plaintiff and defense.