The Importance of Witnesses in a Personal Injury Case

Witnesses are an important part of a personal injury case. In general, witnesses are called to help clarify contested issues in a case. In this way, witnesses can build help build the strength of your case. In fact, as wrongful death lawyer Phoenix AZ residents can rely on can attest, one witness’ testimony could make or break an entire case. There are two major categories of witnesses, read on to find out who they are and why they can be so crucial to your case.

1.  Lay Witnesses

A lay witness is a person who provides testimony in case, but who is not considered an expert. Lay witnesses provide statements based on their perceptions and personal knowledge only, not based on scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge. Lay witnesses don’t provide their opinions, just the facts of what they have perceived in relation to the case.

The most common lay witnesses in a personal injury case are:

·   Witness To the accident: this can include a wide range of people, including, people who saw the accident occur, people involved in the accident, the police, medics who responded to the scene, ER doctors, etc.

·   Before/After Witnesses: often including friends, family, and colleagues; these witnesses have had a personal relationship with the victim both before the accident occurred and after. These people can provide testimony on how the accident and subsequent injury has affected the victim physically and mentally. This sort of witness is especially crucial when asking for damages to compensate for pain and suffering.

2. Expert Witnesses

In contrast to a lay witness, an expert witness is qualified as an expert in a field by way of skill, experience, training, or education. Expert witnesses usually do not have any direct relation to the accident or victim, rather they are outside resources used to provide informed opinions on contested issues in the case. The Federal Rules of Evidence allow an expert witness if:

·   The expert’s scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue

·   The testimony is based on sufficient facts or data

·   The testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods and the expert has reliably applied the principles and methods to the facts of the case.

For example, if the defense is claiming that being rear-ended cannot result in a spinal injury, the plaintiff may call upon a doctor who is a spine specialist (even though the doctor never treated the victim) to provide his expert opinion on whether or not the rear-ending could have caused the injury.

Keep in Mind

If you are involved in an auto accident, gather witness information early and often. From eyewitnesses, to the reporting police office, to your treating doctor; both lay and expert witnesses could be the crucial key to obtaining fair compensation in your personal injury case.

If you’ve been injured in an auto accident, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Kamper Estrada, LLP for a free consultation.

Thanks to our friends and contributors from Kamper Estrada, LLP or their insight into finding an attorney.