If you were hurt in a car accident, you will likely seek compensation if another party was at fault. However, filing a claim against another party can get tricky. You must prove negligence to support your claim and show that the other driver was at fault for the accident. This is the only way to recover losses for medical expenses, vehicle repairs, lost income, and other expenses.

Eyewitness testimony is one of the most reliable pieces of evidence you can offer. An eyewitness account is often unbiased, therefore it can make or break an accident claim.

The car accident lawyers at Brandon J. Broderick can help you gather evidence if you've been hurt in a car crash and need to recover losses from another party. We've been helping accident victims like yourself for decades with positive results.

Types of Witnesses

Believe it or not, there are different types of witnesses who can provide evidence in your case. There's two types: eyewitnesses who witnessed the accident take place; and expert witnesses, such as accident reconstruction specialists, who can offer insight into how the accident happened to improve your case.

Eyewitnesses

Bystanders who were present at the accident scene are considered eyewitnesses. An eyewitness can typically offer an unbiased, third-party account of how the accident unfolded as long as they weren't personally involved in the collision, and they had no connection to the crash victim or the at-fault party.

People who were directly impacted by the accident or who know someone who was involved in it may not give the most trustworthy testimony. Although their testimony might not be as objective, their words may nonetheless be valuable.

Typical examples of eyewitnesses who can testify include:

• Nearby drivers who were not in the accident
• Nearby pedestrians who were not involved in the accident
• Other people in the vicinity of the accident scene, such as nearby property owners, employees, and customers

Any of these witnesses can help you make a case stronger.

Expert Witnesses

Your lawyer may decide, given the specifics of your case, to call an expert witness to support your case, especially if it is complicated. Expert witnesses in the field of medicine, mental health services, accident reconstruction, traffic safety, engineering, economics, and other fields are among the most frequently called upon.

The Importance of Witness Testimony

Witnesses can offer an unbiased account of an accident, and they may also be able to provide details that show who was at fault for the accident. If an eyewitness saw the driver who caused the accident texting prior to the collision, that piece of information could support your argument that the driver was at fault. This example of eyewitness testimony may be used to refute the at-fault driver's assertions that the accident was caused by something else.

If you've been in an auto accident, you should talk to any witnesses who may have seen the collision. So that you (or your lawyer) can get in touch with them later and submit a statement from them. Their contact details should be noted, including their complete name and phone number.

You should also request a police officer to file a report as well. An accident report will be made by law enforcement officials and include all relevant details, including contact information for any witnesses. Police should also get this information if they are summoned to the site, but you should also make an effort to get witness contact information on your own.

Factors That Can Affect the Credibility of Witnesses

Insurance companies will use whatever they can to help minimize the value of your claim. To do this, the insurance adjuster assigned to your case will carefully review and assess every aspect of your claim, looking for opportunities to challenge the validity of the evidence you've presented.

If you provide eyewitness testimony to support your claim, the insurance adjuster may contest the credibility of that testimony on a number of grounds, including:

• Connection - The insurance adjuster can view it as a conflict of interest if you are personally acquainted with the witness or have any type of personal relationship with them. Witnesses who are connected to you could have a personal bias in your favor, making them appear unreliable.
• Consistency - The other party may doubt a witness's credibility if they are inconsistent with their account of what happened or if they forget specific details of the collision.
• Health - The witness's general credibility may be impacted by their state of health. The insurance adjuster can dispute a witness' account of what they saw, for example, if they had impaired vision and weren't wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses at the time of the collision.
• Observations - It may also be disputed what the witness truly saw. The insurance adjuster might question the witness's credibility if they could only recall the moments before the accident or its immediate aftermath. The fact that their whole concentration was not on the incident when it happened, such as their phone, could also have an effect on their credibility.

A skilled car accident attorney can assist you in evaluating a witness' credibility, which will eventually aid your case.

Call Our Car Accident Lawyers To Assist You With Your Claim

Do not handle your car accident claim alone. One of our accident lawyers at Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, can serve as an advocate as you seek compensation for your losses. Our lawyers will speak with witnesses and gather credible information to support your case and get you the maximum value.

Give us a call right away for a free legal consultation.