Not all expert witnesses are created equal — especially when it comes to soft-tissue spinal injuries like whiplash. As a chiropractor with courtroom experience and specialized training in ligament damage and spinal instability, I’ve seen firsthand what separates a helpful expert from one who hurts a case.
In fact, the core message of The $66,000 Neck Injury and How Not to Be Misdiagnosed is this: objective findings matter — but only if they’re documented correctly, explained clearly, and supported by scientific standards.
Here are five lessons I’ve learned that attorneys should consider when selecting (or vetting) a chiropractic expert witness for whiplash or cervical trauma cases.
1. They Know the Standards — Not Just the Anatomy
Any clinician can say, “The patient has neck pain.” But a courtroom-ready expert must go further: applying accepted medical standards, especially those from the AMA Guides to Permanent Impairment, to determine whether the injury meets the legal threshold for impairment or disability.
A strong expert witness will:
- Reference Category IV impairments when appropriate
- Understand and apply Alteration of Motion Segment Integrity (AOMSI) criteria
- Cite metrics from CRMA and biomechanical norms — not vague opinions
As emphasized in the book, “You can’t guess your way to a diagnosis.” You need the right metrics, measurements, and methods.
2. They Use Tools That Insurance Carriers Can’t Ignore
In whiplash litigation, defense teams often argue that there’s no objective injury — especially if MRI and CT scans look “normal.” But as we demonstrate throughout The $66,000 Neck Injury, ligament injuries don’t always show up on those scans.
That’s where Computerized Radiographic Mensuration Analysis (CRMA) becomes critical. An expert who uses CRMA can measure spinal instability down to fractions of a millimeter, documenting:
- Vertebral translation (forward/backward movement)
- Angular deviation (abnormal bending)
These objective metrics help your case pass the “Daubert” sniff test and avoid reliance on vague symptoms. As the book explains, “It’s not about how the patient feels — it’s about what the numbers say.”
3. They Prepare Reports That Speak to a Jury — Not Just Doctors
One of the most common complaints I hear from attorneys is that medical reports are either too clinical or too vague to be helpful. A strong chiropractic expert bridges the gap between science and storytelling — without sacrificing accuracy.
From the courtroom to mediation, a great expert witness will:
- Write reports that explain injury in plain English
- Correlate imaging, impairment ratings, and timelines
- Tie documentation to functional losses (e.g., work, ADLs, litigation value)
We cover in the book how the way findings are presented can often determine whether adjusters or jurors take them seriously. The data must be accurate — but also accessible.
4. They Understand Crash Biomechanics and Injury Causation
A major part of whiplash litigation is connecting the crash to the injury — especially in low-speed or minimal-damage cases. Many chiropractors are unfamiliar with crash dynamics or how to testify about them.
An effective expert witness understands:
- How force transfers to spinal ligaments during impact
- Why vehicle damage doesn’t correlate with injury severity
- How whiplash can cause instability even in slow collisions
In the book, we explain how ligament failure occurs without tissue tearing — a fact that undermines many common insurance defenses. Your expert should be able to explain this clearly to both the defense and the jury.
5. They’ve Been Through It — and Know What to Expect
Finally, litigation is not just about knowledge — it’s about readiness. A seasoned expert knows how to handle deposition tactics, cross-examination, and evidentiary standards.
They’ve answered the tough questions:
- “Doctor, why didn’t the radiologist diagnose this?”
- “Isn’t this just soft tissue pain?”
- “Have you ever been disqualified in court?”
A strong chiropractic expert will not only withstand scrutiny — they’ll help guide the attorney through it. As we emphasize throughout The $66,000 Neck Injury, experts who prepare with the legal team, anticipate challenges, and stay within their scope become invaluable assets in litigation.
Final Thought on Chiropractic Expert Witnesses
If you’re litigating a spinal injury case — particularly one involving persistent neck pain, unclear imaging, or low-impact crash dynamics — your expert witness must bring more than clinical experience. They need:
- The right tools
- The right methodology
- The ability to explain both to a jury
That’s the standard I hold myself to in every case I take.
If you’d like help reviewing a whiplash case, evaluating instability, or documenting impairment properly, I’m available for consults and expert witness services throughout Allegheny County, PA. Let’s make sure the next injury isn’t underestimated — or misdiagnosed.