How Important Are Eyewitnesses in Proving Your Richmond Car Accident Case?

Car accident cases don’t really work the way they appear to work on television. In real life, your Richmond auto accident attorney will have to do a lot of mundane footwork to prove your case. This may include talking to witnesses. However, a lot of it will involve negotiations with the insurance company in an attempt to settle your case. 

The Police Report Will List the Names of Any Eyewitnesses

One thing a Richmond auto accident attorney will tell their clients is to call the cops immediately after a car crash. The police will come to the scene and do a thorough investigation. One of the things they’ll enter in their police report is the names of any witnesses. They’ll also include a brief summary of what these eyewitnesses have to say. These statements can be very helpful. They may be strong enough to convince the insurance adjuster to pay your claim. This way, you can avoid a lawsuit altogether. 

Your Richmond Auto Accident Attorney May Need to Speak with these Witnesses

If the names and contact information of eyewitnesses is in the police report, that will help. Your Richmond car accident lawyer will likely need to talk to these witnesses. The only problem is that a lot of these people won’t want to get involved in a lawsuit. It’s one thing for an officer of the law to stop them at the crash scene and ask for a statement. It’s quite another to testify on behalf of a stranger. It can be difficult to find people willing to do this. They may simply claim they don’t remember anything if they’re forced to testify or come to a deposition

It Can Be Hard to Track Witnesses Down Without the Police Report

If you don’t call the cops to the scene, it may be impossible for your Richmond auto accident attorney to ever track the eyewitnesses down. They don’t have a name or any contact information. They may not even know where to start. Of course, you may be able to provide a few witnesses. Perhaps you have your kids in the car with you at the time of the crash. Just remember – relatives and friends are likely going to be seen as bias witnesses. They may not provide a whole lot of assistance. 

How Reliable is Eyewitnesses Testimony?

It would be nice to think that eyewitness statements can prove a case one way or the other. However, it rarely ever works out that way. Sometimes, a particular witness may not be very credible. Perhaps they’ve changed their story a few times along the way. Or they may claim that they don’t remember what happened after giving your Richmond car accident lawyer a statement early on. This can be very frustrating. However, there are times when a witness can help solve the puzzle. If they are an unrelated third party, they have no reason to lie about what they saw. Also, if their story stays the same from the day of the crash until the day of trial, they’ll come across as very credible. That’s why your Richmond car accident lawyer speaks to eyewitnesses. That’s also why it’s crucial that you have the police come to the crash scene. They’re really in the best position to get these witness statements. 

Your Richmond Auto Accident Attorney Will Focus on Settling Your Case

While it is important to understand how helpful eyewitnesses can be, they may not be necessary to your case. Most car accident lawsuits settle long before they go to trial. In fact, more than 95% of all personal injury cases never see the inside of a courtroom. That’s because it’s not in anyone’s best interests to go to trial. They can be time consuming and expensive. There’s also the chance that you could lose. If that happens, you’ll get nothing. That’s why your Richmond car accident lawyer will work so hard to settle your case. 

The only way to know if your case can be settled is to meet with an experienced Richmond auto accident attorney. Sit down and go over your case with someone who’s been there before. Your attorney has handled plenty of cases like yours before. They know what it takes to prove fault. They also know how to negotiate a settlement with the insurance company or defense lawyer. Call right away and schedule your free, initial consultation. It costs you nothing but can help you decide how best to proceed.