58 CHAPTER 7 Why Do I Need an Expert? types of analysis require not only a skilled examiner, but the proper forensic tools to locate and examine these specific types of evidence. Failing to make a decision to hire an expert early in the litigation process can lead to incomplete analysis, increased costs, and in some cases, failure to comply with court orders that may lead to sanctions or inadmissibility of evidence critical to your case. SUMMARY This chapter examined the need to hire an expert and when to do so. The need to hire an expert is dependent on several factors including the presence of digital evi- dence, the cost factor, the type of case, and the need to get a proper examination and interpretation of the evidence. Hiring an expert early in the litigation process can help to ensure that evidence is not lost and that your expert has sufficient time to perform a thorough and complete analysis and can help to prevent incurring extra costs.