Eyewitness Testimony to Support Your Car Accident Claim

In a Baltimore area car crash that was not your fault, eyewitness testimony is more important and trustworthy than a police report with regards to evidence presented for your claim or case.

How Does Direct Evidence Differ From Circumstantial Evidence

Direct evidence is eyewitness statements or testimony. In the context of personal injury, direct evidence is evidence where someone witnessed the accident or documents created by a person with personal knowledge (e.g. medical records and bills). Circumstantial evidence is provided by police reports.

Circumstantial evidence occurs when someone draws a conclusion based on information provided to them, but the person does not actually experience it or have personal knowledge.

Why is eyewitness testimony more valuable than a police report?

In a Baltimore car accident case, the police report is a prime example of circumstantial evidence. The police officer investigates the accident scene without seeing the accident, speaks to the drivers involved in the accident as well as any eyewitnesses who witnessed the accident.  The Officer then writes his opinions on a police report describing how the officer believes the accident occurred and who is at fault for the accident.

Assume your car accident case went to trial before a judge or jury. If an eyewitness (someone who has no vested interest in the outcome of your case) tells a judge or jury that the other driver ran a red light and hit you, that is very strong evidence that the accident was not your fault, and it will be difficult to refute that testimony.

However, if the investigating police officer is called to testify at trial and testifies that he spoke with the drivers involved in the accident, made his conclusions, but did not actually see the accident happen and made his conclusions based on what the drivers told him, that is much weak testimony to prove you are not at fault.

Immediately After An Accident Locate Your Eyewitnesses

What you MUST DO IMMEDIATELY AFTER A VEHICLE ACCIDENT is to locate any eyewitnesses and obtain their contact information (telephone, home address, email) as soon as possible. The eyewitness may voluntarily assist you in winning your case by providing a statement to the insurance company or testifying at trial if your case requires it.

Schedule for a Free Consultation to Discuss Your Car Accident Situation

Leppler Injury Law has investigated several cases where we needed eyewitness statements and testimony to win for their clients. Don’t go it alone; you will need the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney to ensure that you receive the compensation you are entitled to. Let John Leppler fight for the compensation you deserve. Call our firm at (443) 955-1989 for a free consultation and case review.