Automobile accidents happen in an instant; one moment you are thinking about your plans the day and the next minute your vehicle is a wreck and so are you. When the other driver causes the wreck, you are entitled to money damages, but you must take action to get fairly compensated. You may be entitled to having your vehicle replaced or at least repaired, all of your related medical bills taken care of, lost wages covered and even more, if you file a personal injury suit. If you are fortunate enough to have witnesses, you are ahead of the game. Read on to learn more about the 3 types of personal injury witnesses you may encounter.
Evidence
When it comes to personal injury cases, you will become familiar with several different types of evidence, and each piece of evidence improves your chances of getting a fair settlement offer. In most cases, you will have available:
Types of Witnesses
Eyewitnesses: If you are lucky enough to have someone see your accident and be able to testify about it, you have secured a prime piece of evidence. Eyewitnesses can provide what is known as first-hand accounts of the accident, and their testimony can be invaluable. To ensure you can use this form of evidence, make sure that you (or someone with you) gathers information at the scene. If you need to go back to the scene to speak to residents or employees of businesses nearby, do so. As time passes, memories fade, so don't waste too much time before making contact and securing recorded statements.
Lay witnesses: This is where the pain and suffering you have endured could come into play. People who know you best can attest to the impact the accident has had on your life. This testimony, together with the dollar amount of your medical bills, will go into a calculation that determines how much the at-fault driver's insurance carrier will offer you.
Expert witnesses: If your case ends up going to trial, you may need to call on expert witnesses to testify about your accident and the related damages. These are normally professionals with verifiable credentials in specialized areas, such as accident reconstruction experts, medical experts and more. In some cases, first responders, such as law enforcement and emergency medical services personnel are called upon to give testimony.
Allow a car accident attorney to guide you through this process.
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