When you must fight with the negligent driver’s insurance company about your claim, you need to prove the other driver’s negligence and your injuries to receive the compensation that you deserve. You must do this to convince the insurance adjuster to be reasonable in settling your claim or to win your case in a jury trial. Pictures of the accident scene, damage to the vehicles, and your injuries, medical records, and paystubs are some of the types of evidence that can help you do this. Another important way to prove your case that you do not want to overlook is through witness testimony.
How Witnesses Can Help You Win Your Auto Accident Case
While you are an important witness, a jury could perceive you as somewhat biased because of your direct interests in the outcome of your case. Having witnesses who back up your testimony can be extremely valuable to corroborating details important to your right to compensation. There are three types of witnesses that are helpful in car accident cases:
- Witnesses to the wreck. People who witnessed your accident as it occurred can confirm how the other driver’s negligence caused it. Passengers in your vehicle, drivers and passengers in other vehicles, pedestrians, and bystanders at nearby locations are potential helpful witnesses. While your friends and family will be important witnesses, neutral third parties who have no stake in your case and back up your version of what occurred can be very persuasive in convincing an insurance company or jury that you deserve to be compensated.
- Witnesses to your injuries. If the insurance company is disputing the severity of your injuries or that they were caused by your accident, family, friends, and co-workers can be useful witnesses. They can testify about your injuries, how they have impacted your ability to work and perform day-to-day activities, and the pain and emotional trauma that your injuries have caused you.
- Expert witnesses. What expert witnesses you may need to retain will depend on your disputes with the insurance company. For example, if the insurance company claims that your own negligence caused your wreck, you may need to retain an accident reconstruction expert to prove that the other driver was the sole negligent party. Doctors, economic experts, engineers, and occupational experts are other expert witnesses that may be helpful to your case.
Do you need assistance filing a claim following an accident caused by another driver? An experienced car accident attorney can help obtain witness statements after your accident before they disappear or their memories fade. He can also determine what, if any, expert witnesses you will need. Call our office today to schedule your free consultation to learn how we can help you take these and other steps to build a strong case against the negligent driver.
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