What's A Car Accident Witness Statement And Why Is It Important?
Every day, thousands of car accidents take place.
Whatever the cause—distracted driving, speeding, or blind spots—accident victims are frequently hurt and under financial hardship.
Fortunately, those who are involved in accidents can file an accident claim to receive compensation for their losses, including any property damage and medical expenses.
Obtaining the names and contact details of any witnesses you can locate is one of the most crucial things you can do to support your personal injury claim.
Accident cases frequently boil down to one side vs. the other.
However, you'll stand a higher chance of getting the highest amount of compensation for your accident-related damages if the witness testimony is credible.
We'll talk about witness statements and why they're important in the essay that follows.
What Is A Witness Statement For A Car Accident?
A third party who saw your collision and can describe what they saw can provide a witness statement for a vehicle accident.
Witness statements provide pertinent information and supporting facts that can help your case.
It is difficult to obtain a witness statement if the only witnesses to the accident are the involved parties.
In this situation, everything ends up being a "he said, she said" argument.
Without an unbiased eyewitness account, you must rely on other types of proof in an effort to prove your innocence.
Third-party witness testimony can remove the element of subjectivity from a vehicle accident lawsuit and offer precise, in-depth details about who was at fault for the collision.
If there is no video of the accident, witness statements are the next best thing.
Your witness can take the witness stand and describe what they saw at the scene of the collision if your automobile accident case proceeds to trial.
How to Locate a Witness in a Case of a Car Accident
At times, when writing a police report, the police will gather witness statements.
The police will create a formal report, compile the driver's accounts, establish who was at responsibility, and issue citations to everyone who violated the traffic laws prior to the collision.
Start obtaining witness testimonies if you can once the crash scene has settled and you're waiting for the cops to come.
Before they depart the scene, look for anyone nearby who could have witnessed the accident occur.
Please respect their right to remain silent as no one is required by law to make a witness statement.
Introduce yourself to those nearby and inquire as to whether they witnessed the incident or the circumstances that led up to it.
Record any statements that witnesses make if they decide to do so.
You can record it on video or write notes about it.
To get in touch with them later, you'll also need their contact information.
What to Include in Your Witness Statement for a Car Accident
It doesn't hurt for you to speak to the law enforcement personnel handling your case even if they are taking witness statements.
A thorough witness statement ought to contain the following items:
The accident's date and time
A thorough account of what transpired
their name and e-mail address
Try to get as many details as you can, such as the color of the car, the location of the incident, and whether any other individuals or cars were involved.
Witnesses Aid Us in Establishing What Occurred
To prove that the other person is to blame for the accident, the accident attorney needs proof.
Many cases are predicated on the testimony of eyewitnesses, particularly when there is a dearth of other concrete evidence.
It is preferable to get witness statements as soon as possible.
Human memory is notoriously fallible, and with time, bias seeps into people's accounts of events.
If witnesses aren't immediately interrogated, they frequently learn new details and include them in their account.
Also, events are forgotten by people.
The accuracy of statements obtained right away is probably greater than that of statements obtained later, and they will hold up better during the insurance claim procedure.
When a witness has no self-interest at stake, their testimony is the most believable.
Your family and friends who were in the car with you can testify, but they won't be as persuasive as a bystander who isn't connected to anyone who was hurt.
One of the most crucial things a personal injury lawyer may do for your case is frequently to track down witnesses and obtain thorough testimonies.
A Statement Can Aid in Settlement
Most personal injury cases start with a process called discovery.
Each side investigates the other side's evidence during this stage in order to comprehend how the case might develop in court.
Sometimes, discovery will make one side realize that they were in the wrong.
For instance, if an eyewitness claims that a driver was texting at the time of the collision, the insurance provider for that driver might be persuaded to make a reasonable settlement offer.
Why You Still Need Legal Counsel If There Are Witness Statements
Even the most trustworthy witnesses cannot take the place of a personal injury attorney.
You still require the assistance of an expert lawyer to select the witnesses who will best support your case and gather supporting documentation.
Getting in touch with a qualified auto accident attorney is the first step toward regaining control of your life.
Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys is qualified to serve as your compass through this difficult time since they have decades of trial experience.
In order to achieve great compensation settlements for their clients, Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys provides vehicle accident victims with attorneys with decades of experience navigating the liability legislation.
Make an appointment for a free consultation right away to have a knowledgeable auto accident attorney look over your case.