In this episode, we interview Fred Smith, President at Alpine Engineering & Design. His expertise as a consulting engineer had been sought out by other attorneys and law firms that wanted to utilize his expert witness services and engineering insights. Today, Fred guides legal professionals to navigate complex cases and confidently make informed decisions.
For a full transcript of this podcast, please visit: https://alpineeng.com/the-expert-witness-podcast-episode-7-interview-with-fred-smith-full-transcript/
Barriers to Expert Witness Career
Fred dealt with various barriers and obstacles when he started his career as an expert witness, and how he worked to overcome them.
Fred's First Expert Witness Case
Fred recounts the story of his first expert witness case, which involved a garbage truck accident. He shares how he used models and visual aids to present his case effectively during a bench trial.
Fred discusses the challenges of initially getting cases as an expert witness and how word of mouth and successful outcomes gradually led to a steady flow of cases in this part of his business.
Nationwide and International Reach Expert Work
Fred explains that while some of the engineering work at his company is local, his expertise takes him to cases nationwide and even around the world, although most of his testimony occurs within the United States.
Fred shares several aspects of his work that he enjoys, including the opportunity to help people on both sides of cases, collaborating with skilled attorneys and experts, conducting testing and experiments, and strategizing with attorneys to present his opinions effectively in various legal settings.
Viability, Trust, and Consistency
Gathering information about a case before accepting it, Fred highlights how sometimes it may seem one-sided, leading him to decline it.
Fred underscores the need for trust between experts and attorneys, emphasizing the importance of experts providing honest and consistent opinions. He mentions that honesty and consistency allow him to work effectively on defense and plaintiff cases.
With trials' fluid and unpredictable nature, Fred emphasized that even though they try to plan them, trials can become dynamic due to unforeseen objections and circumstances.
Fred shares a lighthearted story about dressing appropriately for a case in Wyoming, where he adopted a more down-to-earth attire in contrast to the opposing counsel's flashy appearance. He highlights the importance of understanding the local culture and how it impacts a case.
Honesty and consistency are qualities Fred thinks someone newly retained should have on their first case as an expert witness. He highlights how these qualities are essential for building a long-term career and maintaining credibility in the field.
Fred discusses the multifaceted nature of being a good expert witness, pointing out that experts need both technical knowledge and effective communication skills to be persuasive during depositions and trials.
Marketing Techniques for Experts
Doing a good job as an expert witness leads to repeat business and referrals through word of mouth. He highlights how attorneys often recommend reliable experts to their colleagues, leading to a steady stream of cases.
Fred discusses how adding expert witness work to his business offerings has enriched his life and improved his engineering skills. He mentions that this line of work has provided financial stability and synergy with his design work, benefiting both sides of his business.
Alpine Engineering is the host of this podcast. You can see their mechanical engineer expert witness services here
In this podcast we discussed Garbage Truck Expert Witnesses - to learn more visit:https://alpineeng.com/garbage-truck-expert-witness/
You can also follow Fred on LinkedIn
