Importance of Witnesses in a Car Accident Claim

Car Accident,Personal Injury - December 22, 2021

If you or somebody you care about sustains an injury in a vehicle accident caused by another driver in Illinois, you should be able to recover compensation for your injuries and property damage expenses. However, securing compensation depends on establishing liability. Often, these claims hinge on testimony provided by eyewitnesses to the crash. Here, we want to discuss how eyewitness testimony can help determine liability and how an attorney can help secure statements from these individuals.

What Kinds of Witnesses Could There Be?

In the aftermath of a vehicle accident in Chicago or anywhere in the state of Illinois, it is important for those involved to do everything they can to resolve the matter fairly. However, the reality is that those injured due to the negligence of another driver often struggle to recover compensation. It is not uncommon for insurance carriers and legal teams to play hardball when it comes to paying fair compensation to those who sustain injuries and property damage.

Securing fair compensation typically revolves around gathering enough evidence to prove the liability of the at-fault driver. One of the best ways to demonstrate what happened to cause the incident is to hear statements from witnesses. In the aftermath of a vehicle accident, there may be various types of witnesses, including:

• Bystanders that were not involved in the crash. This includes those who were in the vicinity but not directly involved in the incident. This can include other drivers and passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
• Other drivers involved in the crash. Other drivers involved in the crash will likely have to give a statement, and what they say will be used by insurance carriers or during a personal injury trial.
• Other passengers involved in the crash. People often forget about passengers inside vehicles involved in the crash. These individuals can often provide valuable testimony about what happened inside their own vehicle and what they saw outside the vehicle before the crash occurred.

Who Speaks to Witnesses?

It is very important for those involved in a vehicle accident to get the names and contact information of any eyewitnesses at the scene of the crash. Even though the aftermath of a crash will be chaotic, it is important to take down their names and contact information on a piece of paper or on a digital device. After eyewitnesses leave the scene, it will be nearly impossible to find them again.

Additionally, we encourage those involved in a crash to write down the names and contact information of other drivers and passengers involved. This can be a little more challenging, particularly if tempers begin to flare at the scene of the crash. It may be necessary for individuals to rely on police officers who respond to the scene to get this information.

As to who will speak to the witnesses about their version of events, this will fall to the insurance carriers or, if there is a personal injury lawsuit, other lawyers involved in the case.

You Need an Attorney

If you or somebody you care about has been injured or sustained property damage in a car accident caused by the negligence of another driver in Chicago, please reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. An experienced Chicago car accident attorney can handle every aspect of the claim on your behalf. They will fully investigate the incident, speak to all eyewitnesses, and handle all negotiations with the insurance carriers involved.