Personal Injury
Oftentimes, if you have witnessed a car accident, the police may ask for the production of a witness statement. What many eyewitnesses may not realize is that the statement they are providing will be a contributing factor to the validity of the injured person’s claims as car accident lawyers can attest.
While video surveillance footage of automobile accidents is one of most prized forms of evidence in these incidents, another extremely valuable tool in order to help the injured receive compensation for their losses is the use of eyewitnesses who can testify to the incident. Not only can a third-party witness who was present at the accident serve as a valuable source of establishing timeline and facts about the incident, but they are often the first to check on the injured, thus allowing them to give the court a better idea of the types of visible injuries sustained, what was done immediately after the accident occurred, what potential physical and environmental factors contributed to the crash, and even potential pictures and videos of the incident that were collected on their personal phone. Eyewitnesses are crucial for establishment of fault, and therefore it is extremely important to consider whether their testimony is biased, and how it cold be viewed by juries. Additionally, their testimony may be vital to the case, as many accident victims tend to have memory gaps when recalling the incident due to the trauma they faced, which can potentially hurt their case.
However, not only can eyewitness statement serve as important tools during trial, but they can and often are beneficial when dealing with insurance companies. There are many important factors that go into credible eyewitness statements for insurance companies, such as no speculation on any fact. Whether it be injuries to the driver(s), speed at which each driver was going, make and model of the car, or any other characteristics; all statements given by an eyewitness should include facts only that they can vividly recall. Once the information provided by eyewitnesses is recorded, it provides the injured victim’s case much more credibility than it had before.
These witnesses and their statements are also extremely important to a judge or attorney, as the information provided by them can assist in receiving a fair settlement with accurate and clearly depicted details of what occurred.
Credibility
A key factor to credibility and bringing a successful claim is the trustworthiness of the eyewitnesses to the scene. Due to the often large gaps within the victim’s memory, without the testimony of your key eyewitnesses, the case can rapidly crumble. An honest narration of the scene is pivotal to the case and can be the key to ensure a fair, quick, and relatively easy settlement.
If you’ve been injured due to the negligence of another, especially in an automotive accident, a personal injury attorney can advise you on your options based on the circumstances and help you obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses.
Thanks to Eglet Adams for their insight on eyewitnesses and their crucial role within automotive accident lawsuits and claims.