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When researching a machinery expert witness, look for the expert who can provide analysis, reports, exhibits, and testing facilities. Eckstine & Associates, Inc., advises that the testing facility should be capable of conducting detailed experiments, performing accident reconstruction, conducting complete testing, and verifying failure analysis. Since trial exhibits and visual aids play an important part in contributing to the understanding of the facts of any case, look for CAD design and manufacturing of mock-ups and trial exhibits as well as conventional drawings, animations, displays, warning, charts and models.

For more, see http://www.eckstine.net/

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Antiques, art, and collectibles appraisal expert witness Lisa M. Barnes is co-owner of Thomas Charles Editions, LLC. She describes the professional appraisal process:

An appraiser uses a variety of tools: reference works, online electronic databases, and historical documents; and may consult with additional specialists in the field. Based on the analysis of the research, the appraiser produces an appraisal report detailing the appropriate valuation of your personal property.

It is best to get an appraisal before you need one. You will need an appraisal for:

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There are several advantages to having your expert witness talk to the client directly. If your expert’s opinions will be based on the client’s observations and thoughts, the expert should meet and talk with that individual. For example, when the recollection of the plaintiff is crucial to the accident reconstruction expert witness’s opinion, and the plaintiff’s attorney fails to have his own expert meet the client, then the expert must rely on information the attorney gleaned at the deposition. If the expert only sees a summary of the client’s statement or deposition, there is no opportunity for the expert to ask pertinent questions directly.

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After having researched and hired your expert witness, expect to give them the original or copy of every significant writing on which their opinion will be based. For example, in a neurology medical malpractice case, the neurology expert witness should be provided with complete copies of all the plaintiff’s medical records. While they may not have time to read all the records, the expert should be relied upon to determine which records are relevant. It may turn out that the expert finds relevant information in materials that the attorney believed to be of little value in his case.

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Hiring a construction expert witness early on in your case is advantageous for several reasons. These expert witnesses may opine and write reports on construction investigations, construction standards of care, construction cost estimates, general contractors, licensed contractors, and construction disputes. They can also help:

Prepare discovery requests;

Prepare other witnesses and clients for their depositions;

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If your case warrants it, it may be advantageous to hire more than one expert witness. For example, in an airplane case, you may need to select from the following types of aviation expert witnesses:

aircraft accident reconstruction expert witnesses aviation training expert witnesses aviation accident analysis expert witnesses aviation security expert witnesses air traffic control expert witnesses aircraft accident investigation expert witnesses aircraft contract manufacturing expert witnesses aircraft design expert witnesses
As much as possible, the experts should be instructed to avoid contact with each other to ensure that one will not “contaminate” the other(s).

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Be sure to research and give serious consideration to the area of expertise you will need in an expert witness for your case. A few hours on cases analysis and background reading can save wasted time and money later down the road. If the case warrants it, it may be advantageous to hire more than one expert. For example, in an accident reconstruction case, this will allow you to:

1. Have the accident reconstruction expert witnesses compete and select the stronger one to testify at trial

2. Designate both as trial experts but keep one in reserve

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An aviation expert witness may have experience as an aviation engineer. Aeronautical engineers are responsible for the design and testing of commercial aircraft, special purpose aircraft, missiles, space vehicles, and satellites and may opine on aircraft loss of control and airworthiness. Aerodynamic or thermodynamic engineers work on the development of systems and may testify on flight dynamics/aerodynamics and aircraft system-subsystem/failure analysis. Other engineers focus on more specific aspects of aircraft design such as battery technology and propeller design and may report on product liability and accident investigation and reconstruction.

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Metallurgy expert witness Dr. R. Craig Jerner, Ph.D., PE, describes the metal failure analysis process:

The title, Metallurgical Failure Analysis, aptly describes the process, i.e., the analysis of a metal failure. In deference to my mechanical engineering friends, a metallurgist or metallurgical engineer is best equipped to analyze a metal failure. An accident or failure of a metal component, whether it is a simple consumer product such as a hammer or chisel, or a complex multi-component machine such as an airplane or a space shuttle, will normally not be a “simple” failure. Failures are normally complex. Often two, three or more separate but necessary circumstances or events are required to cause the failure or accident. Solving such a complex problem is much like solving a multi-piece jigsaw puzzle.

Guessing about a jigsaw puzzle picture from one or two puzzle pieces will usually lead you to a wrong conclusion. Guessing prematurely from one or two “facts” about the cause of a failure or accident will also usually lead to a wrong conclusion. A series of accident events and evidence will usually fit exactly with another set of events and evidence thereby allowing more of the true picture to be revealed.

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Accident investigation expert witness Dr. R. Craig Jerner, Ph.D., PE, also specializes in metal failure analysis which he defines here:

Metallurgical Failure Analysis is a scientific process in which a cracked or fractured piece or weld is analyzed to determine the cause of failure. The metallurgical failure analysis process involves cutting samples from fractured or cracked samples, conducting a microscopic examination of the fracture or crack, cutting, mounting and polishing samples for scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), microstructural examination, microhardness testing and profiling, chemical analysis, etc. The goal of the process is usually to ascertain why the component cracked or fractured, i.e., causation of the crack or failure.

For more, see http://www.metallurgist.com/index.html