Car accidents may be difficult to resolve, especially if there is a disagreement over who is to blame. Eyewitness accounts that are credible might back up your allegations and make a huge difference in a vehicle accident lawsuit.
Insurance companies are constantly looking for methods to avoid paying damages, including challenging the reliability of witnesses. This means that if you have a credible witness in your automobile accident case, you need to be sure they are genuinely credible.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to seek compensation if you’ve been injured in a vehicle accident. For a free consultation, contact an experienced automobile accident lawyer by calling Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707.
How Credibility of Witnesses Affects a Car Accident Claim
The capacity of a car accident lawyer to negotiate a fair settlement offer is strongly influenced by the reliability (or lack thereof) of a witness. When culpability isn’t obvious, the defense will focus on flaws in a witness’s testimony, recall, or character.
If you rely on eyewitness testimony in your automobile accident case, be sure the witness is an advantage, not a problem.
What Qualifies a Witness as Trustworthy?
Credibility is difficult to build and simple to undermine for the defense. With that in mind, here are a few qualities to look for in a trustworthy witness:
- A good moral character and a clean criminal record
- Not a family member or a close friend
- Healthy in both mind and body
- Was clean of alcohol and drugs at the time of the accident
- Saw the event clearly and without distractions
What Factors Affect Witness Credibility Negatively?
Witnesses who exhibit specific traits are easily discredited by the defense. Here are some instances of untrustworthy witnesses:
- Witnesses who did not see the entire accident
- Witnesses who are distracted (i.e., talking with friends, on their cell phone, etc.)
- Witnesses who contradict each other’s versions of the accident
- Witnesses connected to someone involved in the accident
- Witnesses with a vested financial interest in the outcome of the case
- Witnesses who are unable to communicate because of their age, IQ, physical condition, or mental health.
A witness the judge or jury does not trust might do more harm than good to your case. Your automobile accident lawyer may advise you to avoid their testimony completely in specific cases.
It’s worth noting that having reliable witnesses doesn’t ensure a favorable conclusion. The defense might call witnesses or present evidence to refute your witness’ testimony. This is why your automobile accident lawyer must thoroughly screen all prospective witnesses. If you are in need of a free legal consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
