The Role of Expert Witnesses in Termite Litigation Cases
Uncovering substantial termite damage in your home can be devastating, especially when you did your best to address an infestation and secure professional assistance. When professionals lead you astray and provide inadequate assistance, you may be able to hold them accountable through litigation.
It’s likely that your Biloxi attorney will turn to expert witnesses to create the strongest case possible on your behalf. Learn more about the role of expert witnesses, and when you’re ready to start your claim, call us at 1-855-558-2977.
Types of Expert Witnesses Used in Termite Litigation
The types of expert witnesses used in your termite litigation case depend largely on the types of damage you’ve sustained and who have engaged in fraud against you. Relevant expert witnesses include:
- Entomologists: There are several different species of termites, and the damage they cause can vary from species to species. An entomologist can comment on the signs of termite damage, how you would identify that damage, and what would happen in different scenarios.
- Structural engineers: Structural damage can be incredibly expensive; in some cases, it’s less costly to call the entire house a loss than to repair and rebuild. An expert witness with extensive experience in structural engineering may explain the extent of the damage to your home, determine the integrity of your home, explain whether or not rebuilding is possible and what it would cost, and comment on your home’s future vulnerability to termite damage.
- Pest control experts: Pest control experts are particularly helpful witnesses when you have been defrauded by unscrupulous pest control companies. They can look at the damage you’ve sustained, explain what type of treatments they would have recommended, and explore weaknesses in the treatments used by the company you hired.
- Real estate appraisers: Anyone who works in real estate in this area will tell you that a major termite infestation can have a severely negative impact on your property value. They may conduct a valuation of your home prior to termite damage and after to explain what you’ve lost.
Understanding the Cause and Extent of the Damage
Expert witnesses may be called upon to explain the extent of the damage you’ve suffered and where that damage originated. This insight can be useful to prove your financial losses and pinpoint how the liable party is at fault. They may even be able to create a timeline of the damage, figuring out when it likely started, and how much of the damage could have been prevented if you’d received efficient treatment for the infestation earlier.
Explaining Shortcomings of Termite Professionals
Perhaps one of the most significant benefits of an expert witness is their ability to explain where pest removal companies fell short. This is an area of expertise that laypeople rarely have any experience with, and statistics tend to fall flat. But when you have someone who is a verifiable expert in their field, their ability to explain the components of effective termite treatment and the flaws in the treatment used in your home can be devastating for the other party’s case. They may go over the standards of practice used by ethical pest removal companies, assess the efficacy and thoroughness of the other pest control company’s inspection, and determine whether or not their treatment worked for your home.
How Expert Witnesses May Influence Your Case
Whether your case settles out of court or goes to court, expert witnesses can significantly improve your chances of a favorable outcome. If your case is still in negotiations, the pest control company’s insurance provider may assume that you don’t know how badly their client actually failed. When you bring in an outside expert, it shows that you’ve done your research and you are committed to getting what you rightfully deserve. In a court case, expert witnesses may take complex pest control topics and make them easy to understand for the laypeople of the jury.
Reach Out to Reeves & Mestayer Now to Begin Your Claim
If you’re considering termite litigation to cover damages to your home, it’s time to talk to the team at Reeves & Mestayer. Contact us online now or call us at 1-855-558-2977 to set up a consultation right away.
