How to Maximize Witness Testimony for Your Personal Injury Claim
Witness testimony can be one of the most important pieces of evidence for your personal injury case should the case go to court. Even if your case doesn’t go to court, a written witness statement could be used to help facilitate an out-of-court settlement. Given the importance of witness testimony, many personal injury victims may wonder how best to contact witnesses and ensure that witness testimony offers the best possible support for their case.
Of course, the time following any car accident can be incredibly stressful for victims and their loved ones. Seeking out witness testimony may be the furthest thing from you or your family’s mind. However, this testimony can be key to help you and your loved ones receive justice and ensure that your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering are compensated.
At the end of the day, it is always best to seek the skilled representation of a personal injury lawyer if you have been injured in Meridian or Boise, Idaho. The Law Office of Johnson & Lundgreen has the experience and skill to ask your witnesses the right questions to ensure that you have the strongest case possible.
Yet, what can car accident victims do to ensure that their witnesses help them build the strongest possible case? For one, victims of car accidents should, if possible, get the names and contact information of all witnesses who saw the accident. While the time immediately following a car accident can be confusing and painful, victims who have this information on hand may have an easier time putting their personal injury lawyer in contact with the right witnesses.
If you were not able to get this information on the scene of the accident, your lawyer can review your police report and make phone calls to individuals who may have a recollection of what happened. For instance, if your accident took place at a busy shopping center, your lawyer may be able to contact individuals who work nearby to see if they have any recollection of the events that took place during the day of your accident.
Idaho law protects individuals who stop and help at the scene of the accident under its Good Samaritan Law. This means that any person who helps at the scene of an accident in good faith cannot be held liable for injuries victims sustain during these good faith efforts. Yet, sometimes witnesses may be reluctant to come forward if they saw the accident, but failed to render aid, for instance.
Fortunately, there may be other ways to bring forth evidence following an accident. Perhaps a local store had a running camera that happened to be pointed at the street? If there are tire marks on the asphalt, studies can be performed to determine the speed of the vehicle that made the marks. For personal injury victims in Meridian and Boise, Idaho, there are many ways that evidence can be gathered. Having a skilled personal injury lawyers—like Johnson & Lundgreen—to put it all together can lead to a more favorable outcome in your case.
