Law Office of Michael D. Waks

A Lawyer You Can Trust

No Fee Unless You Win

Call888.394.1174

Available 24/7

  • Home
  • Attorney Profile
  • Reviews
  • Practice Areas
    • Personal Injury Lawyer Long Beach
    • Personal Injury Lawyer Cardiff
    • Motor Vehicle
      • Auto & Car Accidents
      • Bus Accidents
      • Distracted Driving
      • DUI Victim
      • Motorcycle Accidents
      • Truck Accidents
      • Wrongful Death
    • Premises Liability
      • Construction Accidents
      • Premises Liability
      • Electrical Accidents
      • Private Property Accidents
      • Slip and Fall Accident
      • Swimming Pool Accidents
    • Other Practice Areas
      • Brain Injury
      • Burn Injury
      • Bicycle Accidents
      • Boating Accidents
      • Dog Bite Accidents
      • Legal Malpractice
      • Pedestrian Accidents
      • Product Liability
      • Spinal Injury
  • Case Results
  • Videos
  • Resources
    • California Law Enforcement Information
    • California Personal Injury Laws and Statutory Rules
    • Other Resources
    • Personal Injury Law FAQs
    • Personal Injury Resources
    • Physical & Emotional Recovery Support
    • Southern California Courts
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

What Are the Different Kinds of Witnesses That Can Contribute to a Personal Injury Claim? 

July 26, 2023 by Michael Waks

personal injury attorney with accident victim and wife

When it comes to personal injury cases, the road to recovering a fair settlement can sometimes be straightforward. However, in cases where damages are significant or disputes arise regarding fault and causation, the involvement of various witnesses becomes crucial. In this blog post, we will explore the types of witnesses who play essential roles in personal injury cases, shedding light on their significance and the value they bring to the legal process.

Percipient Witnesses: Providing Firsthand Accounts

One important type of witness is the percipient witness, often referred to as an “eyewitness.” These individuals testify based on their direct perception of events through their senses, such as seeing, touching, hearing, or smelling. 

Percipient witnesses are particularly valuable for proving liability in personal injury cases. Examples of percipient witnesses in such cases include shopkeepers, pedestrians, and drivers who witnessed car accidents, customers or staff who witnessed slip and fall incidents, bystanders who witnessed dog bites, and individuals who observed injuries resulting from defective products.

Expert Witnesses: Offering Specialized Knowledge

Expert witnesses possess specialized knowledge in specific areas relevant to the case, such as the plaintiff’s medical condition, the valuation of damages, or the cause of the plaintiff’s injury. In personal injury cases, medical experts are commonly called upon to provide testimony. Their expertise becomes particularly crucial when disputes arise concerning various aspects, including:

  • Types of Medical Care Needed: Ongoing medical care may necessitate the involvement of life care planners and medical specialists who can testify about the specific types of care required.
  • Cost of Future Medical Bills: Disputes over the cost of future medical expenses can be resolved with the assistance of life care planners and medical specialists who provide testimony regarding the anticipated costs.
  • Failure to Mitigate Damages: The defense might argue that the plaintiff failed to mitigate damages by delaying medical care or engaging in activities that worsened their injury. Medical experts can offer testimony to refute such claims, explaining why the plaintiff’s actions were reasonable given the circumstances.

Expert witnesses can be divided into retained and non-retained categories. Retained medical experts are specifically retained for the litigation process, providing opinions on matters related to standards of care and causation. Non-retained medical experts, also known as “expert percipient witnesses,” acquire knowledge independently of litigation and can testify based on their expertise and experience.

Technical Experts: Unraveling Complex Factors

In some personal injury cases, technical experts play a crucial role in providing testimony. Their specialized knowledge helps unravel complex factors and aids in establishing the facts of the case. Some common types of technical expert witnesses include:

  • Accident Reconstruction Experts: These professionals contribute to cases where there is a dispute regarding the cause or sequence of events leading to the injury. By reconstructing the accident, they provide valuable insights.
  • Economists: Financial experts assist in determining the value of lost earning capacity, considering factors such as inflation and economic influences that impact the financial award.
  • Engineers: When an injury is caused by a defective product or machinery, engineers provide testimony regarding how the product should have functioned and whether the defect directly caused the injury.
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Experts: These experts shed light on how an injury has affected the injured party’s future work prospects and income-earning capacity.

Support from Friends and Family: Demonstrating Non-Economic Damages

Friends and family members can also play a significant role in personal injury cases. Their testimony is often utilized to demonstrate the extent of the plaintiff’s non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment in life, and emotional distress. Their firsthand accounts provide insights into the intangible consequences of the injury.

Discuss Your Case with a Personal Injury Attorney Long Beach

Your Injuries Are Personal to Me

If you were seriously hurt through no fault of your own, the Law Office of Michael D. Waks can help. Our team is available 24/7 to take your call, so we can start building your case as soon as you’re ready. To schedule a free initial consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Long Beach, call (562) 206-1939 or fill out our Contact Form. 

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Michael Waks
Michael Waks
Michael Waks is an aggressive advocate for people who have suffered because of someone else’s actions. Michael decided to become a personal injury lawyer when, while clerking at a legal defense firm during law school, he witnessed and was infuriated by asbestos manufacturers spending millions to avoid taking responsibility for the egregious injuries they caused. Immediately after passing the bar, Michael opened his own firm in Long Beach, CA to help the victims of personal injury accidents get every benefit owed them under the law.
Michael Waks
Latest posts by Michael Waks (see all)
  • How Can Social Media Activity Impact Your Personal Injury Case? - May 21, 2025
  • Why Working with a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Make a Difference in California - May 14, 2025
  • How Insurance Companies Review Injury Claims in California - April 30, 2025
Share here...

Law Office of Michael D. Waks

Get a Free Consultation

  • Submission of this form does not create an attorney-client relationship.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Other Areas We Serve

  • Personal Injury Lawyer Wilmington
  • Personal Injury Lawyer San Pedro
  • Personal Injury Lawyer Compton
  • Personal Injury Lawyer Paramount
  • Personal Injury Lawyer Signal Hill
  • Personal Injury Lawyer Lakewood
  • Personal Injury Lawyer Seal Beach

Testimonials

Michael represented me in a personal injury case and I can’t recommend him enough. From the very first consultation he made sure that I was always aware of my options and up to speed with every aspect of my case. He answered all my questions and used his experience and expertise to help guide my decisions instead of trying to make them all for me. He not only ensured that the settlement I received was more than enough to cover all my bills and expenses but he also made sure I had piece of mind and would be taken care of going forward.

– Eric G.‎
Read More Testimonials

Categories

  • Bicycle Accidents
  • Boating Accidents
  • Brain Injuries
  • Burn Accidents
  • Bus Accidents
  • Car Accidents
  • Construction Site Accidents
  • Disability
  • Distracted Driving Accident
  • Dog Bites
  • DUI Victim
  • Electrical Accidents
  • Government Entity Claims
  • Legal Malpractice
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • Pedestrian Accidents
  • Personal Injury
  • Premises Liability
  • Private Property Accidents
  • Product Liability
  • Sexual Assault
  • Slip and Fall
  • Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Swimming Pool Accidents
  • Train Accidents
  • Truck Accidents
  • Uncategorized
  • Uninsured Motorists
  • Wrongful Death
– BACK TO TOP –

Visit Us

Long Beach Office
1 World Trade Center, Suite 800
Long Beach, California 90831
P: 562-206-1939
F: 562-676-4388
Get Directions

Cardiff Office
160 Chesterfield Dr., Suite 200
Cardiff, CA 92007
760-767-8031
Get Directions

Call Us

888-394-1174
SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION
Personal injury lawyer Long Beach
Car accident lawyer Long Beach
Google Review
  • review_star
  • review_star
  • review_star
  • review_star
  • review_star

Michael Waks is The attorney you want to resolve your accident issues, period. He is knowledgeable, efficient, and gets maximum results when you are injured.

— Joe M
  • facebook-app-symbol
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • youtube
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Scholarship
  • Sitemap

This website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as providing formal legal advice.

Copyright © 2025 by Michael D. Waks Long Beach Personal Injury Lawyer & Car Accident Attorney

Website & SEO By Sutton Digital Marketing