PT Expert Witness Readiness Check

PT Expert Witness Readiness Check

Could your clinical experience translate into expert witness work?

Many physical therapists have the education, judgment, and real-world rehabilitation experience attorneys need, yet they have never been shown how those skills apply in a legal case.

My own path into expert witness work began when an attorney who had previously taken my deposition recognized the depth of my understanding of mild traumatic brain injury, dizziness, balance dysfunction, and rehabilitation. He later contacted me about helping with a case. That experience opened my eyes to the value physical therapists can bring when a legal team needs someone who understands function, recovery, documentation, and the realities of rehabilitation.

The PT Expert Witness Readiness Check was created to help experienced physical therapists determine whether this type of work may be a good fit for them.

Inside this free guide, you will learn:

• Why physical therapists are often better qualified for expert work than they realize
• The types of legal cases where physical therapy expertise may be valuable
• What attorneys need from a physical therapist expert
• How clinical reasoning translates into record review, consultation, report writing, and testimony
• The qualities attorneys consider when evaluating a potential expert
• Common mistakes that can damage credibility
• How to identify and clearly define your strongest area of expertise
• The foundational tools you need before accepting your first case
• A practical 30-day roadmap for becoming more prepared and visible
• How to determine whether you are ready to take the next step

The guide also includes a self-assessment designed to help you evaluate your experience, communication skills, clinical judgment, professional background, and readiness to work objectively within the legal system.

This guide is for physical therapists who:

• Have several years of meaningful clinical experience
• Are frequently asked for guidance on difficult patients or complex cases
• Have developed expertise in a specific area of rehabilitation
• Are interested in consulting, record review, or alternative professional opportunities
• Want to use their clinical knowledge beyond direct patient care
• Are curious about expert witness work but do not know where to begin
• Want an honest picture of what this work involves before investing in a full course

Expert witness work is not about becoming an advocate for one side. It requires objectivity, careful record review, defensible clinical reasoning, and the ability to explain complicated rehabilitation issues in clear language.

You do not need to know everything. You need a defined area of expertise, a strong professional foundation, and a clear understanding of your role.

Download the PT Expert Witness Readiness Check and find out whether your current experience could become the foundation for expert witness work.

Created by Dr. James Mortensen PT, DPT

This resource is for educational purposes only. It does not provide legal advice, guarantee case referrals, or replace individualized professional or legal guidance.