When it comes to personal injury claims, witnesses play a significant role in determining the outcome. Whether you were involved in a car accident, slip and fall incident, or suffered a dog bite, witnesses can help support your claim and provide the court with valuable insight and information as to what happened and who was at fault. Here, we will explore just how important witnesses are and how they can make a considerable impact on the outcome of your claim.
Types of Witnesses
In understanding the value of having witnesses support your claim, it is first important to understand the two main types of witnesses in a personal injury claim.
- Lay Witnesses: The first type of witness is a lay witness. These witnesses are third-party individuals who saw the accident occur and/or have information regarding what happened leading up to or following the incident. For example, if you witness a car accident take place at an intersection while you are waiting to cross the street, you may be considered a lay witness. It is important to note that lay witnesses are not able to give their opinions regarding who they think may be at fault.
- Expert Witnesses: The second type of witness in a personal injury claim is an expert witness. Like the name suggests, an expert witness is an individual who has expertise and extensive knowledge in a particular field, of which they will utilize in their testimony. Some examples may include medical professionals, accident reconstructionists, or forensic scientists.
Objectivity
One of the greatest advantages of having witnesses involved in your personal injury claim is that they will provide an objective, unbiased testimony of what occurred before, during, or after the accident occurred. While some bias might inevitably occur with lay witnesses, it is not very likely that an expert witness will have a biased opinion since their testimony is purely based on the facts and evidence of the situation.
Credibility
Another favorable benefit of witnesses in personal injury claims is that they have the potential to provide a great amount of credibility. This credibility is due in part to the objective nature of a lay witness and the advanced knowledge of an expert witness. If the right witnesses are chosen and they are able to deliver a convincing claim on your behalf, the credibility of your case is likely to increase ten-fold.
Clarity
Witnesses can also provide great clarity and insight into how the accident occurred. Lay witnesses can assist by describing what they saw occur, while expert witnesses can give a detailed account of how the accident occurred. When in alignment with one another, these two types of testimony can greatly enhance your argument.
Legal Assistance
Enlisting the help of a St. Petersburg personal injury attorney to help with your personal injury case is a vital aspect of working towards recovering compensation and justice. An attorney can help ensure that you have a convincing claim and argument is made that is well-supported by witnesses. They can help determine what will and won’t be beneficial to your claim and help to construct it in such a way that guarantees no contradictory information is shared.
