If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you could be entitled to compensation if someone else caused your crash. To recoup money for your medical bills, vehicle repairs, lost wages, and more, you will need to provide evidence that backs up your claim and demonstrates that the other driver was responsible for the accident.
One of the most substantial types of evidence you can provide is eyewitness testimony. Because eyewitnesses tend to be objective, their statements could make or break an accident claim. If you were involved in an accident that another motorist caused, contact Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, to get started on your case.
Types of Witnesses
Two primary types of witnesses can provide statements or testimony on your behalf: eyewitnesses who saw the crash occur and expert witnesses such as accident reconstruction experts who can provide insight into the accident that ultimately strengthens your case.
Eyewitnesses
Eyewitnesses are bystanders who were present at the scene where the accident occurred. As long as an eyewitness wasn’t involved in the accident themselves and didn’t have any relationship to the crash victim or the liable party, they can usually provide an objective, third-party view of how the accident played out.
Individuals who were affected by the accident or are acquainted with anyone involved in the crash might not provide the most reliable testimony. While their statements can still have value, their testimony may not be as objective.
Some common types of eyewitnesses who can provide testimony include:
- Nearby motorists who were not involved in the accident
- Nearby pedestrians who were not involved in the accident
- Other individuals in the area surrounding the crash, including property owners, workers, customers, and more
Any of these witnesses may be able to strengthen your case against the at-fault party.
Expert Witnesses
Depending on the circumstances of your case, your attorney might choose to bring in an expert witness to support your case, particularly if your case is complex. Some of the most common types of expert witnesses include medical professionals, mental health care providers, accident reconstruction experts, highway safety experts, engineering experts, economists, and more.
Why Is Witness Testimony Important?
Witnesses can provide an impartial view of an accident, and they also might have critical information that demonstrates the at-fault party’s liability for the accident. For instance, if an eyewitness noticed that the motorist who caused the accident was texting before the crash, that bit of evidence could help corroborate your claim that the motorist was responsible for the crash. If the at-fault driver tries to claim that something else caused the accident, eyewitness testimony could help contradict their claims.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Georgia, you should speak to any bystanders near the scene who may have witnessed the crash. Ask them for their contact information, including their full name and phone number, so that you (or your attorney) can reach out at a later date and get a statement from them.
You should also call law enforcement to the scene. Law enforcement officers will create an accident report that contains pertinent information related to the accident, including witness contact information. You should still attempt to collect witness contact details yourself, but police should also collect this information if called to the scene.
Factors that Impact Witness Credibility
Insurance companies are for-profit entities. An integral part of an insurance adjuster’s job is to minimize the company’s losses. To that end, the insurance adjuster who is assigned to your case will closely examine and evaluate every aspect of your case, searching for ways to poke holes in the evidence you’ve provided.
If you offer eyewitness statements to back up your claim, the insurance adjuster might challenge the reliability of that evidence on several different grounds:
- Connection – If you are personally acquainted with the witness or have any kind of personal relationship with them, the insurance adjuster might see that as a conflict of interest. Witnesses who share a link with you might not come across as reliable because they could have a personal bias in your favor. For example, testimony provided by someone who was riding in your car at the time of the accident might not be as dependable or objective as the testimony of a stranger who was walking near the crash site.
- Consistency – If a witness is not consistent with their version of events or can’t recall certain aspects of the crash, the other party could call their reliability into question.
- Health – The witness’s health could also affect their overall credibility. For instance, if a witness has poor eyesight and wasn’t wearing spectacles or contact lenses when the crash occurred, the insurance adjuster may challenge the veracity of what they saw.
- Observations – What the witness actually saw could also come into question. If the witness only saw the lead-up to the collision or the aftermath of the crash, that might cause the insurance adjuster to doubt their credibility. If they were distracted by something else when the collision occurred, such as their phone, the fact that their full attention was not on the crash could also impact their credibility.
A knowledgeable car accident lawyer can help you determine whether a witness is credible and will ultimately strengthen your case.
Contact a Gwinnett County Car Accident Lawyer
Were you injured in a car accident in Gwinnett County? If so, contact Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC today to speak with an attorney about your case. Our Duluth car accident lawyers have the knowledge and experience to help you gather the evidence you need to prove your case, which could include eyewitness and expert witness testimony. Contact us today for a free consultation.
