You’ve just been in a car accident. You’re scared, you’re confused, and you’re not sure exactly what happened or what you should do next. This is a common scenario for anyone after an accident, even if it’s a minor one. Witnesses can be great assets for your case, and we’d like to discuss three reasons how witnesses increase compensation.
Reason #1: Witnesses can attest to the mistakes the other driver made
One of the emotions many people experience after an accident is anger. You might be angry because of the mistakes the other driver made that caused your accident, but he or she might be trying to put the blame on you. Witnesses may be able to point out what the other driver did wrong, and these accounts are so important to your case. They give more weight to your story than to the other driver’s story, and your attorney will want to discuss the accident in detail with them to provide your case with the support it needs.
Reason #2: Witnesses who are local to the area are aware of other accidents that occurred in that same location
Many drivers are quick to take the blame for accidents, but you should hold off on that. There might be additional circumstances that you’re not aware of that caused the accident to happen, and if a witness is local to the area, he or she might have information to support this. Perhaps the road is filled with pot holes, or maybe there’s a sharp curve that isn’t marked correctly with the appropriate speed limit. It’s possible that many accidents have happened in that area before, but you’re just not aware of them. A witness might be all too aware of them, which helps to reduce your fault and increase your compensation.
Reason #3: Witnesses can testify to the extent of your injuries after the accident
Insurance companies do not want to pay out a lot of money for settlements. They’re trying to protect themselves and their investors, and they really don’t care how bad you’re injured. Don’t be surprised if they try to downplay your injuries, or if they accuse you of making things up to get more money. If witnesses saw the accident, they probably saw you right after it happened. Their eyewitness testimonies of your behavior, your pain level, and your well-being is a very important part of your case, and your attorney will use them to ask for more in compensation.
If you are in an accident, make sure you or the police officer that arrives on the scene takes down the information of any witnesses who saw what happened. These witness accounts are a great resource for you, and they can actually shed more light on what really happened. In many cases, witnesses can substantially increase the amount of money you’re compensated with, so it’s important to know how to get in touch with them, and communicate that to the attorney who is handling your case.
