For your car accident injury claim, photos, videos, accident reports, medical documents, and medical bills are all important pieces of supporting evidence. But what many people forget about is witness testimony. Continue reading to learn the types of witnesses to a car accident and how one of the experienced Howard County car accident attorneys at Lloyd J. Eisenberg & Associates can help you in retaining them.
What are the different types of witnesses to a car accident?
Hopefully, your car accident occurred on a busy-enough road so that witnesses are a possibility. The different types of witnesses that may be able to help you include the following:
- Someone who was walking down the sidewalk of the road where your accident occurred.
- Someone who was riding their bike in the bike lane of the road where your accident occurred.
- Someone who was driving their car on the road where your accident occurred.
- Someone who was a passenger in one of the cars involved in your accident.
And with that being said, a witness may help weigh the evidence in your favor by offering up any of the following:
- They may provide photos and videos that they took of your accident playing out.
- They may give a statement to a law enforcement officer working on your accident report.
- They may provide testimonial evidence to an insurance adjuster working on your claim.
- They may provide testimonial evidence to a court working on your car accident injury claim.
What should I do to obtain witness testimony for my car accident injury claim?
While you are still at the scene of the accident, you must approach any present witnesses and ask for their contact information. Though you may be overwhelmed by the events that just played out, it is nonetheless important that you take the time to ask for the following:
- The witness’ name.
- The witness’ phone number.
- The witness’ email address.
- The witness’ residential address.
- The witness’ willingness to provide photos and videos they took of your accident.
- The witness’ willingness to provide oral or written testimony to a police officer, insurance adjuster, and/or court.
When should I obtain witness testimony?
Without further ado, you must obtain witness testimony as soon as possible for the following reasons:
- You want them to provide testimony while the events of your accident are still fresh in their memory.
- You want them to provide testimony before the other party’s insurance adjuster contacts them and convinces them otherwise.
- You want them to provide testimony before you have to file your claim, which in the state of Maryland, must be done generally three years from the date of your accident.
For more information, consult with one of the skilled Howard County auto accident attorneys today.
