At trial, expert medical witness testimony is used primarily to determine the standard of care that should have been observed in your treatment and to determine whether the defendant’s treatment met that standard. The witness might also testify concerning other issues such as your likely future damages or the amount of pain and suffering that you are likely to have endured.
Expert medical witnesses are also useful in settlement negotiations. This is important because the U.S. Bureau of Justice estimates that fewer than 10 percent of all medical malpractice claims are resolved through trial – private settlement is the preferred option.