What Is a Car Accident Witness Statement?
A car witness statement is a piece of writing or testimony by a third party who saw the wreck happen and can explain what they saw. It can contain vital details and evidence that can be a very beneficial aspect to your case. It can sometimes be difficult to obtain an objective statement if the only witnesses in the accident are both parties involved. It can become a “he said, she said” kind of deal where not much gets accomplished. Without an objective statement, you are forced to rely on other evidence to try and explain why you were not at fault. A third-party witness statement can eliminate the subjectivity of a car accident case and provide accurate, detailed information as to who’s at fault for the accident if there is no video evidence to prove the accident. If your car accident case makes it to trial, you can have your witness sit on the stand and testify to what they saw at the scene of the wreck.How Can a Witness Statement Benefit Your Case?
A witness statement can benefit your case for several reasons. We’ve discussed how it can accelerate the validity of your claim, but there are other reasons as to how witness statements are necessary for a case. Since Florida uses a modified comparative rule where both parties in car accidents share the blame, a witness statement can greatly reduce the blame that’s on the plaintiff if the statement supports the other driver was at fault. The modified comparative rule is still going to take effect in reducing the amount the plaintiff will receive in the end. If the witness statement reduces fault significantly, it can minimize how much is taken out of the plaintiff’s potential settlement. The statement can also support the injuries that were attained during the accident if the witness saw what happened. Since medical records will be examined during the trial, the witness can attest to the fact that you succumbed to these injuries at the expense of the other driver’s negligence.How To Find a Witness for Your Case
It can be difficult to find a witness for your case, given the circumstances. You likely won’t know anyone who was nearby, and if you’re being treated for medical care, you may not be fully conscious at the scene. It might be worth checking out the video from a nearby business or traffic light to find someone who was nearby. Or, if you’re conscious at the scene of the crash and a good Samaritan volunteers assistance, you can obtain their contact information for later use. Sometimes depending on location, business employees or people who saw the accident want to help by speaking to the police. It can be noted in a police record who gave a statement at the scene, so your lawyer might be able to obtain a name once they review the police report.Questions That Might Be Asked Of Your Witness
When it comes to accepting the statement from the witness, there are certain factors to keep in mind when determining who is a good witness. If your case goes to trial, the witness will be investigated for the following:- Background
- Relationship to the plaintiff and defendant
- What they were doing at the scene of the crash
- Whether the witness saw the whole crash
- Whether they have any vision or medical impairments
- The witnesses’ reputation of honesty
- More relevant factors
