The Importance of Witness Statements in Car Accident Claims

When it comes to vehicle collisions, particularly those that result in substantial damage, injuries, or potential fatalities, individuals present at the time of the incident frequently remain to provide law enforcement with their firsthand accounts of the events. This is common in most personal injury cases, including workplace and slip-and-fall incidents.

Multiple witnesses at the accident scene might have differing perspectives depending on their position—whether they were seated in another car or standing on the street. Either way, though, their insights are frequently extraordinarily valuable.

Your lawyer must establish fault to establish liability and demonstrate that your injuries caused damages. These witness statements can function as an impartial third party whose judgment is not swayed in favor of one of the parties' best interests and can aid in establishing the case's facts.

This enables your attorney to objectively evaluate their observations without any external influence objectively, thereby bolstering the credibility of your personal injury claim through verification of your accident narrative. Considering the rate of serious injury car accidents in Texas increases year after year, the danger is ever-present, and victims need to tap into any resource available to help them prove fault. 

Witness Statements After Texas Car Accidents

Eyewitnesses at sites of personal injury accidents are bystanders who were not directly affected by a crash. This signifies that they were not injured, sustained no property damage, and were not involved in the disaster; therefore, they can offer an impartial account of the proceedings.

Witness statements contribute to the strength of your personal injury claim in the following ways:

• Corroborating evidence: Witness statements corroborate evidence favoring your account of the events. Their ability to validate your recollection of the incident can assist in establishing liability and bolstering your claim.
• Offering objective viewpoints: Non-involved witnesses may offer an impartial account of the accident due to their potential observation of details that you or the opposing party failed to notice. Their unbiased observations may provide significant insights into the events before and throughout the accident.
• Increasing your credibility: Witnesses who are impartial and have no vested interest in the outcome of the case can bolster the credibility of your account, particularly in situations where disagreements arise regarding liability or culpability.
• Filling in informational gaps: In certain circumstances, due to the shock or trauma caused by the incident, you might have limited recollection of the accident. Witness statements furnish crucial information regarding the events preceding, during, and after the accident, thereby aiding in rectifying memory lapses.
• Providing specific details: Critical determinants of negligence that might have been discernible to witnesses comprise the weather, traffic conditions, vehicle velocities, and conduct of the involved drivers. A clearer picture can be formed regarding the accident's cause by providing these particulars.
• Refuting alternate claims: When the opposing party presents a contradictory account of the events or deceptive assertions regarding the accident, witness statements have the potential to disprove their claims and bolster your stance.

Remember that in Texas, if you have sustained an injury in a negligently caused auto accident, you should contact the police immediately, collect contact information and witness statements, and seek medical attention if possible.

How Do Witnesses Give Crash Statements?

A statement provided by a witness to a vehicle collision in any region of Texas could alter the investigation's course. A witness statement regarding a car accident comprises a succinct account of the occurrences preceding the collision.

Courts and police officers who responded to the site of the collision may utilize them in case of a liability dispute.

When providing a witness statement in Texas, an individual must verify the veracity and accuracy of all the information presented. Witnesses should include the following:

• Your name and details of contact.
• The date and time of the collision.
• Whether any of the drivers involved in the collision are known to you.
• Specify the circumstances surrounding the crash, including your location when it happened.
• Whether additional vehicles or individuals were involved in the collision.

A statement is generally an exhaustive account of each motorist's actions that contributed to the collision, specifying whether any was speeding, failing to stop at a red light, or texting on their phones at the time of the incident, for instance. Moreover, you must adhere to all directives law enforcement authorities provide while providing a witness statement to ensure that your responses to the police's questions are as precise as possible. The aforementioned information shall be incorporated into the formal traffic collision report.

Reporting a Crash with Witness Statements

Whether or not you believe you had any fault in an accident, it’s important to contact your insurance carrier in Texas and file a claim. Additionally, you should obtain the name and number of the claims adjuster assigned to your claim and add it to any files you’ve kept related to your crash.

If you suffered injuries, keep your medical records and invoices to show your insurance company if you saw a doctor. Furthermore, if there is any doubt regarding the potential liability in your accident, ensure that you collect witness statements and inform your insurance company of those statements. This evidence can help your insurance company or any other insurer better determine the circumstances surrounding a wreck.

Call the Rasansky Law Firm's Dallas Accident Lawyers

In our state, auto accidents touch tens of thousands of families. Even though some incidents only result in minor injuries, other victims are permanently disabled. Of course, asserting your legal rights after an accident is paramount, and gathering witness statements is just one component of safeguarding your rights after a crash. Contact a Dallas car accident attorney if you are dealing with the aftermath of a serious automobile collision. You may find that you qualify for compensation to offset impending financial obligations.

Here at the Rasansky Law Firm, our Texas accident lawyers have more than three decades of seasoned experience in assisting victims of accidents caused by careless and reckless drivers. Our well-respected lawyers serve our clients with knowledgeable and trustworthy legal counsel. We are ready to analyze the facts of your crash and assess your legal options. If you have been injured in a car accident in Texas and have concerns about your legal options, please call 214-617-1816 for a free initial consultation of your claim.