Category: Experts

Expert Evidence and Defence Medical Exams – The Challenges of Scientific Evidence

by John McKiggan

Expert evidence forms the core of any personal injury claim. In almost every personal injury case the plaintiff must provide scientific evidence, usually if the form of testimony from teatingg doctors and other health care providers about issues surrounding causation of the plaintiff’s injuries.

Personal injury claims often boil don to a so-called “battle of the experts” and the judge or jury is forced to decide which evidence they feel is more reliable or reasonable.

Interpreting Scientific Evidence Challenging

When is an Expert not an Expert?

by John McKiggan

A recent decision from the Ontario Superior Court had to ask (and answer) this questions.

In Babakar v. Brown the Babakars were injured in a motor vehicle accident. They were insured by State Farm Insurance. They applied for accident benefits under their own automobile policy. Their insurance company sent the Babakars to see a psychologist, an orthopedic surgeon and a physiotherapist for so called “independent” medical examinations.

Plaintiffs Cut Off

Experts in Personal Injury Claims

by John McKiggan

“An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field.”
Niels Bohr
Witnesses in a personal injury claim trial, or any trial for that matter, are only allowed to testify to facts. However, in some circumstances a witness may be allowed to offer an opinion. Only witnesses that have been accepted by the court as an expert in their field can offer their opinion.

Who Can Be An Expert?

Almost anyone can be qualified as an expert if they have special knowledge in a certain field that the average person doesn’t have.