In any auto accident claim, witness statements are important. But just how important are they, and what witness statements will you need for your case in South Carolina?
You may need a few types of witness statements for your auto accident case in South Carolina. The most important are statements from eyewitnesses and experts. Eyewitnesses can provide corroborating statements and correspond with your version of events. Experts, like medical experts, can help explain complicated matters regarding your medical condition and future necessary treatment. Statements from victims can be especially helpful regarding their recovery of pain and suffering damages. Although witness statements are important, they are not always available. When you can’t get eyewitness statements, other evidence in your case can fill that void, allowing you to meet the burden of proof against the driver responsible for your injuries.
You can call Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers at (803) 451-4000 to schedule a free and confidential evaluation of your case from our South Carolina car accident lawyers.
Witness Statements Needed for Car Accident Claims in South Carolina
Witness statements can legitimize and reinforce your injury claim following a car crash in South Carolina. At the very least, getting statements from eyewitnesses and expert witnesses will be important.
Eyewitnesses can give the most impactful testimony regarding auto accidents, apart from statements victims provide themselves. When eyewitnesses repeat the circumstances of an accident as explained by the victim, it helps to meet the burden of proof against the defendant. To eventually obtain these statements, you should speak to eyewitnesses at the accident scene. If you are capable, ask for their phone numbers and names. Then, give that information to our Sumter, SC car accident lawyers. We will reach out to eyewitnesses, interview them, and get their statements to use in your case. It is important to do this quickly so that eyewitnesses’ memories do not fade before we can interview them.
Expert witnesses have the education, training, and experience to provide insight into a civil case. For example, medical experts can review a victim’s medical records and give context to the likely cause of their injuries and the long-term treatment they may require. Engineering experts can undermine assertions that a mechanical failure led to your accident. Our lawyers will analyze your case and source expert statements as necessary. To ensure there is sufficient evidence for experts to refer to when providing statements in your case, report your accident to the police, go to the hospital, and make efforts to preserve all other evidence related to your case.
Do You Need to Give a Witness Statement for Your Car Accident Case in South Carolina?
While statements from experts and eyewitnesses are important for a successful car accident case in South Carolina, so are statements from victims. While giving a statement can be intimidating, our lawyers can help you prepare so that you feel comfortable.
Sometimes, taking matters into your own hands and giving a statement that explains your accident can make all the difference to your case. Although testifying in front of a judge or jury if your case goes to trial can be overwhelming, it might be necessary. When victims speak from the heart and explain the difficulties they have faced following an accident, they may have a greater chance of recovery, especially when it comes to compensation for pain and suffering.
Our lawyers will help you prepare for this endeavor by carefully reviewing the facts of your accident, from the location and the time of day to the impact and the following moments, so that you know it like the back of your hand. We can also help you articulate your pain and suffering, leading to a more impactful and successful testimony.
Other testimony, such as statements from therapists or close friends and family, can reinforce your personal statement. Such statements can help to shed light on your mental and emotional challenges, increasing the chances that you will recover compensation for non-economic damages in South Carolina.
What if You Can’t Get Witness Statements for Your Car Accident Claim in South Carolina?
Sometimes, car accidents do not happen in front of eyewitnesses. While our lawyers can still source other witness statements, such as statements from experts, other evidence can be used in your case. Such evidence includes surveillance footage, medical records, photographs, and more.
While witness statements are important, they may not prove fault alone. Witness statements are always most impactful when they are supported by other evidence. Suppose you cannot get eyewitness statements because no one witnessed your crash. In that case, our Lexington, SC car accident lawyers may obtain security camera footage from nearby properties showing your accident. Physical evidence from the scene, incident reports, and statements from involved parties can supplement eyewitness statements when they are not available. In these types of cases, it is especially important to start investigation efforts as soon as possible.
Relying on witness statements alone might lead to an unsuccessful recovery for victims in South Carolina. Although witness statements are impactful, they are not the be-all-end-all, meaning that an investigation can churn up compelling and vital evidence of fault, even if certain witness statements are unavailable.
However, that does not mean that you should not try to obtain witness statements. Our lawyers will investigate to identify eyewitnesses, even if you were unable to speak to them after a crash. We can also use our connections to source statements from experts that will support your claim. Because available evidence in car accident cases varies substantially from case to case, all opportunities to recover evidence should be taken.
Call Our South Carolina Attorneys About Your Car Accident Claim
Call (803) 451-4000 to have the Columbia, SC car accident lawyers of Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers review your case for free.
