Injured in an Accident? Don’t Overlook the Value of a Witness Statement

If you are injured in an accident, one of the most important things you can do is get the name and contact information of any potential witnesses. While many people do manage to get this information, they often neglect to follow up with them and get a statement. As a result, they are missing a vital piece of evidence that can help them prove their claim. One of the benefits of working with a Waldorf personal injury lawyer is that they can handle this step for you so that you can focus on your recovery. 

Witnesses Are Neutral Third Parties

One of the reasons why getting statements from your witnesses is important is that they are considered to be neutral third parties. In other words, they are mere observers of the accident with no stake in the potential outcome of your case. Generally speaking, it doesn’t matter to them who is at fault for causing the accident. Of course, friends or family members of the victim who may have witnessed the accident want a favorable outcome for the person they care for. It’s important to note that this does not disqualify them from providing a compelling statement, it just means that there may be some additional challenges to be considered. An experienced Waldorf personal injury lawyer will be able to overcome any accusations that the witnesses to your accident are biased.  

Witnesses Can Establish Important Facts

Accidents are often catastrophic events that happen in the blink of an eye. The people involved in an accident are often unsure of what happened or have differing accounts of what happened. Neither party may be willing to accept responsibility for the accident, and as a result, may be providing a biased version of the events. Or the people who were injured simply don’t know what happened or can’t remember. 

A witness can help establish important facts that prove causation and liability. For example: 

• They may have observed the color of the light in an intersection car accident
• They may have seen the exact location where you slipped and fell
• They witnessed a car turn left into an oncoming motorcycle

Whether the facts are unknown or in dispute, a reliable witness can shed a lot of light on what happened in your accident. 

How a Waldorf Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

Unfortunately, getting a solid statement from a witness is more complicated than many people realize. If you need to rely on their statement to make a claim for compensation, it’s important that their statement be clear and straightforward. An experienced Waldorf personal injury lawyer will know how to interview witnesses and determine whether their statements will be helpful to your case. For example: 

• Because they know what you will need to prove under the law, they know which questions to ask. 
• They can evaluate the witnesses’ statements to ensure that they are credible and consistent. 
• They can analyze conflicting statements to determine why there may be disagreement. 
• They can use these statements to evaluate the strength of your claim and anticipate potential defenses. 

Talk to a Waldorf Personal Injury Lawyer Today

If you have been injured in an accident, we can help you get a credible witness statement to support your claim, as well as any other evidence you may need. Let Waldorf personal injury lawyer Thomas E. Pyles help you get the compensation you deserve – contact us today at 301-705-5006 to schedule a free consultation.