How to Use Witness Statements to Support Your Car Accident Claim

If you sustained injuries in a motor vehicle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you likely want to receive full compensation for your injuries, any lost wages, and pain and suffering if applicable. In order to do this, you need to prove that the other driver involved is liable for your damages. In this blog post, we will discuss how to find and reach out to potential witnesses to your motor vehicle accident and explain how crucial quality witnesses can be for your case.

How to Obtain Witness Statements

After checking for injuries and contacting the police, take some time between the collision and the arrival of police officers to look for potential witnesses of your car accident and ask them if they may have information that may help your claim. Potential witnesses can be drivers or passengers of other cars involved in the accident, good Samaritans who stopped to provide assistance, nearby business owners or customers, etc. If you are able to find someone, politely ask them to describe what they saw and heard and see if you are able to record it on your phone or write it down on your mobile phone. However, it is important to note that witnesses to car accidents have no legal obligation to speak with you or provide a statement. Consider asking the witness some of the following questions: if they know anyone involved in the accident, if they were able to see the entire accident as it happened, and if the witness was distracted by anything at the time of the accident. If you find a cooperative witness, ask the person to write down what they saw and heard, in as much detail as possible. If they aren’t comfortable writing, ask permission to write down what they say and have them sign and date the statement you wrote for them. Ask for the name, phone number, mailing address and email address of any potential witness. If someone is too rushed to give a statement on the spot, you or your personal injury attorney can contact them later to arrange to take their statement.

The Importance of Witness Statements in Personal Injury Cases

In order to prevail in your car accident personal injury claim, you have to prove that the other party is responsible for your injuries. In other words, you have to prove that the other driver was negligent and that your injuries were directly caused by the other driver’s negligence. Obtaining witness statements can be extremely helpful for your case and show that the other driver was indeed negligent and responsible for the car accident you were involved in. Witness statements may be used to show who caused the collision, to prove that you were in fact injured or to substantiate any claims you may have for pain and suffering. Witness statements can be especially important if you have no other evidence of the other driver’s negligence for the accident. Any witness who is willing to testify on your behalf can help but if you can obtain a statement from a witness who was not a passenger in your vehicle, is not related to you or connected to you in any way, even better. The reason for this is that a witness who is uninterested and unbiased and has nothing to gain financially from the outcome of your case will be more credible to a jury or even the opposing party. Also, if the opposing party uses a witness against you at trial, your attorney can use a prior inconsistent statement they provided to you before trial to counter their trial testimony. Additionally, oftentimes, people forget what the conditions were like after an accident. Especially if there is a trial one to two years after the fact. Prior written or recorded witness statements can be used later on to refresh a witness’s memory. Obtaining a recorded or written witness statement from an eye witness at the scene of the accident can be extremely valuable for the success of your claim and can help settle your claim faster. Overall, quality statements can help settle your claim.

How an Attorney Can Help with Your Car Accident Claim

If the insurance company denies your personal injury or property damage claim, you may be able to file a lawsuit to obtain the compensation necessary to pay for your medical treatment and expenses. At the law offices of Suarez & Montero Car Accident Lawyers, an attorney can review your policy and the written reason for your denial to ensure that you have a valid claim. After a car accident, it is incredibly important for you to contact a Florida car accident attorney. The Law Offices of Suarez & Montero represents accident victims injured in various types of accidents. Our skillful attorneys are genuinely committed to our clients. We will fight to make sure that you get the maximum amount of compensation owed to you. Let us help you get the medical care you need and fight to make sure you are compensated for your injuries! Our attorneys are ready to provide proven legal representation in pursuing your claim and stand ready to protect your rights. We are available 24/7 to give you a free, no risk case consultation.

We serve clients throughout Florida including those in the following areas:

Miami-Dade: Aventura, Coral Gables, Doral, Fontainebleau, Hialeah, Homestead, Kendall, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Lakes, North Miami, Tamiami, and Westchester.

Broward: Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, and Weston; and Palm Beach County including Boca Raton, Lake Worth, and West Palm Beach.

The Law Offices of Suarez & Montero Car Accident Attorneys represents accident victims injured in various types of accidents including:

• Distracted Driving Accident Lawyers

•Drunk Driving Accidents

• T-Bone Car Accidents

• Road Rage Car Accidents

• Head-on Collisions

• Rollover Accidents

• Rear-end Car Accidents

• Left Turn Accidents

• Failure to Yield Car Accidents

• Sideswipe Accidents

• Merging Accidents

• Lane Change Accidents

• Construction Zone Car Accidents

• Truck Accidents

• Semi-Truck Accidents

• Bicycle Accidents

• Train Accidents

• Pedestrian Accidents

• Boating Accidents