The Importance of Witness Statements in Auto Accident Claims
Witnesses can play an important role in car accident claims. While your statements can do a lot to show the insurance companies involved what happened, eyewitnesses can always strengthen a claim. That’s why you may want to get contact information for any eyewitnesses before leaving the scene of a crash.
Getting the right help for your personal injury claim means finding an attorney you can trust. Call Reeves & Mestayer at 228-300-2754 to set up a time to meet with our Biloxi personal injury team now.
Neutral and Unbiased Perspective
One of the main benefits of working with eyewitnesses is their ability to provide a neutral and unbiased perspective of what happened. The insurance companies and police officers will definitely listen to both drivers’ stories, but they will also turn to third parties to get more information.
Why? Let’s be fair—you and the other driver both have a vested interest in painting yourselves in the best light possible. No one wants to be at fault for an accident and get sued while having their insurance rates spike. There’s a good chance that at least one driver will bend the truth to suit their own narrative. On the other hand, third parties have no vested interest in the outcome of the case. They are just there, to tell the truth and help out.
Figuring Out Fault and Liability
Determining liability is a big step in a car accident claim, and in many cases, the drivers’ stories aren’t enough on their own. In some situations, both drivers tell the story in a way that makes the other party liable.
Consider, for example, a case hinging on someone running a red light. Driver A claims that they had the right of way on a green light, but unfortunately, Driver B says the same thing. An eyewitness may step in to say that they were at the intersection driving in the same direction as Driver B—and they were stopped, because they had a red light when Driver B entered the intersection. This answers the question of who is at fault and who will be expected to pay damages.
Corroborating the Driver’s Story
When police officers and insurance adjusters talk to the drivers involved in the crash, they do so with a healthy dose of skepticism. If they take everyone at their word, they’ll end up believing a lot of lies—so how do they figure out the truth? They supplement their reports and their findings with statements from neutral eyewitnesses. This also shows them how much they can believe each driver and how much weight their stories should carry. For example, if an eyewitness’s story includes the same details as Driver A’s story but proves wrong Driver B’s words, they will be very hesitant to believe anything Driver B says going forward.
Adding Context and Details
A driver can only take in so much information at any given time, and this is particularly true when they are involved in a crash. While it may feel like it lasts forever, they take in everything in a matter of seconds. That means that a lot of information and details are completely missed. Eyewitnesses who aren’t in the middle of the chaos may capture crucial details that provide context to what happened.
Consider this example. Driver A strikes Driver B on the side, claiming that it only happened because Driver B began to merge into Driver A’s lane. They blame the accident on Driver B and say that they were just staying in their own lane. An eyewitness who was driving next to Driver A less than a mile back saw them whipping in and out of traffic, causing several near-misses before they reached Driver B and their luck ran out. Proof of Driver A’s unsafe driving behavior makes their side of the story seem a lot less believable.
Fighting for Compensation? Contact Reeves & Mestayer Today
Your car accident attorney in Biloxi can help you make use of eyewitnesses and other types of evidence. Let’s get started now with a free consultation. Fill out our online contact form or give us a call at 228-300-2754 to set up your free consultation now.
