When it comes to winning your car accident lawsuit, your Atlanta accident attorney will rely on several types of evidence. One of the strongest types of evidence is an eyewitness statement. While some people argue that eyewitnesses tell a biased story, they still have a story to tell.
One would hope that a stranger who has no stake in the game would tell the police the truth about what they saw. Of course, if the witness happens to have been a passenger in one of the vehicles, the cops and your car accident lawyer in Atlanta will take what they have to say with a grain of salt.
Here, we will discuss the benefits of having an eyewitness testify in your case. While they can often be helpful to a plaintiff’s cause, that isn’t always the case. If you’re worried about what a witness may say about your own car accident case, give us a call.
We offer all new clients a free, initial consultation. This gives you a chance to discuss these things with a seasoned Atlanta accident attorney. It also gives you a chance to see just how strong your case may be. Call us today at (404) 433-6876.
Not Everyone is Lucky Enough to Have Witnesses to Their Crash
If there were eyewitnesses to your accident, that can be a good thing. If they actually saw what happened, it can help your case. Of course, if they say that you caused the crash, it won’t be good news for you. However, if that was their position, it would have been in the police report and your car accident lawyer in Atlanta will see it.
They aren’t going to call on someone to testify unless it’s going to help you. That doesn’t mean the defendant won’t call their own witnesses. Both sides are trying to do the same thing here. The goal is for your Atlanta accident attorney to negotiate a fair settlement with the other side. The insurance company will have much deeper pockets than any individual you may sue.
The Police Will Talk to Any Eyewitnesses at the Accident Scene
One of the things the cops will do when they arrive on the scene is to talk to eyewitnesses. They want to see what they have to say. Chances are, if a witness sticks around long enough for the cops to arrive, they want to talk. Usually, witnesses are strangers who happened to see the crash occur. But the police will also talk to passengers who were in the vehicles involved.
Of course, if someone is a passenger in your car, they’re probably going to say it wasn’t your fault. The same is true for passengers in the other driver’s vehicle. They are going to say whatever they can to help their friend or family member. That’s why your Atlanta accident attorney will look to find independent witnesses rather than people who are biased.
As you can imagine, it will not strengthen your case all that much to have your best friend or spouse testify about the crash. Why would anybody give them any credence?
Hopefully, the Witnesses’ Statement is Beneficial to Your Case
If you were involved in a car crash, then you already know who caused it. Deep down, if you feel that you caused the accident, be careful about how hard you pursue the matter. You always want to be open and honest with your car accident lawyer in Atlanta.
The only way they can give you a fair estimate of what your case is worth is for you to tell the truth. Plus, your attorney can look at the police report and find out what the cops saw. If they don’t feel you are being honest with them, then they aren’t going to want to handle your case.
When your lawyer reads the police report, it will tell them who the eyewitnesses are. It will likely provide them with contact information for the witnesses as well. The police officer who prepares the report will also summarize the statements any witnesses made.
If it looks like these statements support your argument, then your Atlanta accident attorney would want to reach out to them. This doesn’t mean they will agree to testify. However, they may be willing to sign an affidavit that your attorney can submit at trial.
Since most cases don’t make it to trial, it should be enough that you can show the other driver’s attorney what the witnesses said. If it’s helpful to your case, it may boost the amount of your settlement. It can also help increase your chances of winning at trial if that’s the direction your case takes.
Your Atlanta Accident Attorney’s Goal is to Settle Your Case and Get You the Money You Deserve
If you were injured in a car crash and believe the other driver caused the crash, you need help. There’s a good chance that you will be entitled to damages. It all comes down to what the facts are and what your Atlanta accident attorney can prove.
Now, having witnesses who can say with certainty that the other driver caused the crash would be nice in any case. However, it is rarely that easy. Even if there are witnesses to the accident, they may know have all that much to say. After all, most drivers are too focused on their own driving. They aren’t paying attention to what is going on with other cars.
If your insurance claim has been denied and you think you should sue, contact our office directly. We will sit down and go over your case to see if it is worth pursuing. We offer all new clients a free, initial consultation. You should call today and schedule yours.
Not only is the consultation free, but we also don’t charge our clients anything upfront. You can count on the other driver having a team of attorneys representing them. You need to take steps to protect yourself as well. Call us today at (404) 433-6876.
