How Can Witness Testimony Help Your Car Accident Claim?

Car Accident Lawyer

Having an objective third-party statement about the events that led to the car crash can help you recover full compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. However, obtaining the statement on your own is generally not the best idea, especially if you have suffered serious injuries and are unable to deal with the witnesses. Partnering with an experienced personal injury lawyer helps you gather the necessary evidence, including eyewitness testimony, to strengthen your car accident claim and maximize your compensation. 

Importance of an Eyewitness in an Accident Case

Your memory can be flawed. You might also overlook important details. And over time, bias creeps into people’s stories. This is why eyewitness statements are essential for building your accident case. Witnesses have no self-interest in the situation and no connection with either party. Hence, your chosen car accident lawyer can utilize witness statements to:

• Encourage settlements and avoid risking the case
• Prevent inconsistent or false accounts of the accident
• Not allow statements to be used against you
• Help witnesses recall previous statements (via written declarations)

Who Can Provide Witness Statements?

Anyone who saw the accident or has other relevant information can testify on your behalf. Passengers in either vehicle can be considered witnesses. Objective testimony from eyewitnesses who were not involved in the accident can be very valuable. So to build your case, you would need statements from: 

• Other drivers or pedestrians present at the crash site
• Businesses around the accident location – they often have video of the accident from surveillance cameras
• Any store employees or customers

How Does A Witness Statement Impact Your Case? 

Eyewitnesses and witness statements are vital to prove who is at fault so you can prove liability and recover damages. Eyewitnesses can reveal some crucial details about the at-fault party. For instance, the at-fault driver may have been talking on the phone while driving. The witness may have also heard the at-fault driver make a statement about the accident. This can help counter the negligent party’s later testimony that he or she was not at fault for the accident.  

If you are physically able to do so, we also always suggest victims gather witness information (name and contact number) firsthand, i.e., while still at the accident site.  These witnesses and their statements can be used to bolster your claim when fighting with the insurance company. Coupled with the assistance of a compassionate, knowledgeable, and capable auto accident lawyer, witness statements can be the key to a successful outcome.   

Need Legal Assistance? Call Us Today To Schedule An Appointment. 

Eyewitness testimony can strengthen your car accident claim and help get you fair compensation. However, obtaining statements can be complicated. Insurance companies also challenge the credibility of witnesses. When the witness lacks credibility, their testimony may be of little use and may actually hinder your case.

At Jeff Murphy Law, our competent car accident lawyer has years of expertise and is skilled in doing whatever it takes to get the testimony from an eyewitness and get you the full value of your case. We will thoroughly investigate your accident and talk to all available witnesses to help support your claim. Call us at (813) 553-5517 to schedule a free initial case evaluation and discuss the legal support available to you.