
Your Forensic Psychologist for Legal Cases
Webster defines "forensic" as "belonging to, used in, or suitable to courts of law." Because the term "forensic" is often used today in TV crime show investigations and dramas, there sometimes is confusion in the general population that “forensic” is a term that relates specifically to crimes, which is not the case. Instead, “forensic” should be understood to mean “helpful in court cases,” rather than the more restrictive lay perspective of relating to only criminal cases.
Based on this definition, there are many types of professionals who may be considered “forensic professionals,” such as psychologists, economists, and pathologists. Forensic professionals with different specialties can be helpful to legal counsel when their area of expertise is required.
Forensic Psychology Expert Witnesses
Although not every profession has a specialty in forensics, there are forensic psychology expert witnesses like Dr. Manges who have been qualified to testify before a jury, thereby making them de facto forensic specialists.
The psychology profession, however, has recognized forensics as a subspecialty. As a consequence, standards of care and ethical guidelines have been adopted governing forensic psychology. For example, the forensic psychologist can be called upon to opine about etiology (disease causation), casualty, and/or temporal relationships between a plaintiff’s assertions and the objective findings. Sometimes, as you might suspect, the forensic psychologist’s opinion may not support the plaintiff’s assertions.

How a Forensic Psychologist Can Help Support a Litigation Team
By applying scientific principals and areas of knowledge to each individual case, the forensic psychologist can:
- Help legal counsel understand the meaning and importance of scientific and other data, research, reports, and papers so that such information can be considered in the strategic development of a case
- Help attorneys and jurors understand complex psychological issues such as the effects of trauma, brain injury, and the long-term prognosis due to injury
- Spot signs of malingering, feigning, secondary gain, and instances where the plaintiff fabricates their condition to get medical attention
- Provide an expert opinion concerning whether a person’s assertions and symptoms are likely real or imagined
Assess pre- and post-incident functioning based upon the available information - Connect injuries such as TBI and trauma to the post-incident functioning of the injured person along aspects including vocational ability, future earnings loss, and emotional and interpersonal relationship disturbance, so that an arbitrator, mediator, magistrate, judge or jury may understand the damages suffered to determine compensation post injury
- Offer objective evidence to help support or clarify matters that may be in question at a trial or hearing and communicate the scientific principles underlying their expert opinion to an arbitrator, mediator, magistrate, judge or jury in an understandable manner.
In matters where terms of art and jargon abound, a forensic psychologist can clarify the otherwise confusing plethora of data. Offering a scientifically replicable approach that can withstand the scrutiny of a Daubert challenge, a forensic psychologist can testify, depending on the issue, on either the liability or damages side of a case.
The Independence of Forensic Psychologists
Forensic Psychologist as an Expert Witness: A Crucial Asset in Complex Litigations
Supporting Your Case with a Forensic-Wage Loss Expert
Why Forensic Psychology Matters in Civil Law
How Dr. Manges Can Help You
FAQ
What kind of cases can benefit from a forensic/wage loss assessment?
Personal injury, family law, disability claims, trauma, PTSD, TBI, and many more.
How can a forensic psychological/wage loss assessment strengthen my case?
What does a typical forensic psychological/wage loss assessment involve?
Call for a FREE consultation!
Contact Us Today
While going through the complexities of vocational rehabilitation, partner with Dr. Kenneth J. Manges & Associates for his expertise and guidance. Contact us today to learn more about our vocational expert services and how we can assist you in achieving optimal outcomes for your clients.