Personal injury cases involve many different types of evidence. One aspect of a personal injury claim will be the role of witnesses. Are witnesses important in personal injury cases in Dallas, Texas? It really depends on the nature of your case, the complexity of your case, and whether a witness can help prove a point that is in dispute in your case. The accident attorneys in Dallas, Texas at the Law Offices of Robert Gregg can review your case and help you understand whether witnesses might be helpful.
The Role of Evidence and Expert Witnesses in a Personal Injury Case
If you have been hurt in an accident, you might be wondering what steps you should take to make it more likely that you’ll be able to make an effective claim. In the immediate aftermath of an accident, it is important to call the police, make a police report, seek medical attention, take photos of the accident scene (if possible), and to get the names of any witnesses who saw the accident take place. Witness testimony is just one part of a larger picture of evidence your Dallas, Texas accident lawyer will gather. What kinds of evidence can help build a case?
- Your police report from the scene of the accident will contain important details. For example, police are empowered at the scene of the crash to check drivers for drunk driving, and they can evaluate other details at the scene that could contribute to determining who is negligent (at fault) for the crash.
- Medical records will offer details about the damages caused by the accident. It is important to link the accident to its consequences. Medical records can detail how a car accident caused head trauma for example, or these records can show how a slip and fall resulted in a broken bone.
- Photos can provide evidence of the scene of the accident. If there was a blind spot before a stop sign, or if there was water on the floor of a coffee shop, photos can paint a bigger picture of what happened.
- Witnesses who saw your accident take place can tell their side of the story and corroborate your version of events, helping you prove negligence if it is in doubt.
- Expert witnesses, like medical professionals and engineers, can offer their expertise to either show that the other party is negligent or to show how the kind of accident you were involved in might have produced the injuries you are describing.
In the aftermath of an accident, finding the other party negligent (responsible for the accident), involves showing that the other party owed you a duty of care (in a car accident this will involve the responsibility to drive safely, while in a premises liability case this might involve a property owner’s responsibility to warn visitors about known dangers or hazards). Beyond showing a duty of care, victims also need to show a connection between their injuries and the accident. Sometimes people were previously injured or ill and insurance claims adjusters or negligent parties want to make sure they are not paying for your prior injuries. Witnesses at the scene of the accident and expert witnesses can both help show that a party might have been responsible for an accident. If you have questions about whether witnesses who saw your accident are important to your personal injury case, contact the accident law firm in Dallas, Texas at the Law Offices of Robert Gregg today.
Two Types of Witnesses and How They Can Help Your Case
After an accident, there are two types of witnesses you might use in your case. One type, is the witness who saw your accident take place and the other is an expert witness who is brought in to offer expertise about your accident. Both types of witnesses can be important to a successful personal injury case.
- Witnesses who saw your accident. At the scene of the accident, it can be helpful to gather as much information from witnesses as you can. Get the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of witnesses who saw your accident. If you can, take notes of what the witness saw, heard, and where the witness was located. If you have your phone, with the permission of the witness, you can even get a video statement where the witness can describe what happened. An accident lawyer in Dallas, Texas like the Law Offices of Robert Gregg can contact your witnesses, speak to them, get written and signed statements, and help build the strongest possible personal injury case for you.
- Expert Witnesses. If you have been injured in a car accident or slip and fall accident, your accident law firm in Dallas, Texas might bring in expert medical witnesses to explain the nature of your injuries and to help estimate the costs of future medical expenses and lost wages. One of the challenges of determining the value of a personal injury claim, involves determining how much medical care for your injuries might cost in the future. A medical expert can explain the nature of your injuries in court and offer estimates of how much it costs to care for these injuries. Other experts might include engineers or architects who can explain problems with a building if you were hurt in a premises liability claim. An accident reconstruction expert can look at evidence you have and offer impartial testimony from a professional standpoint about what he or she thinks happened in your accident.
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident or on someone else’s property, the accident law firm in Dallas, Texas at the Law Offices of Robert Gregg can help you gather the evidence you might need to make a claim. Our firm can take the time to review your evidence, estimate the value of your claim, and help you through every legal aspect of seeking a settlement for your injuries. You may only have a limited amount of time to seek damages following an accident. Having strong evidence presented in a timely manner can make it more likely that you’ll be able to recover damages for your medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Visit the Dallas, Texas accident law firm at the Law Offices of Robert Gregg today to learn more.