Why Are Witness Statements Important in a Personal Injury Trial in New Jersey?

You might have been in an accident or had a family member or friend go through a trial and noticed how it affected them. If so, you know that going through the aftermath of an accident is not as easy as some claim. It takes a lot from anyone—mentally, physically, financially, and socially—and getting through it can be such a drag.

It gets even worse if the person loses the personal injury claim after the accident. Therefore, it is important that one wins a personal injury claim to ensure they get the compensation that they deserve. “One way to increase your chances of winning a personal injury trial is to have witnesses speak in your favor,” says attorney William J. Garces of Garces, Grabler & Lebrocq, P.C.

This article will discuss how witness statements are important in personal injury trials in New Jersey.

Getting Started: Defining Witness Statements

A witness statement is, just as the name implies, the statement of a witness. It is a careful account by a person present at the accident scene that led to the personal injury claim. Witness statements offer clarity regarding the case in point by offering an impartial account of events. This also helps to give different insights as to what happened and how it happened.

Anyone can be a witness as long as they can prove that they were present at the scene of the incident at the time it happened.

Why Are Witness Statements Important In Personal Injury Cases?

The court always tends to rely on the accounts of witnesses when hearing and deciding on a case. While evidence runs aplenty in personal injury cases, witness statements hold much water for the following reasons:

• They corroborate your evidence

Corroboration between the plaintiff’s testimony and a witness’ account is always a plus. The more witness statements confirm your story, the more credible your case is.

• They offer extra details and different perspectives

It is very possible for witnesses to give an account of something that happened that the plaintiff was unaware of. This, of course, strengthens the plaintiff’s position.

• They establish facts and faults

Independent witness accounts help the court to establish truths and untruths. This is very important as a wrongly assumed position could tip the scales and bend the lines of justice in the wrong direction.

How to Get Witness Statements Necessary for Personal Injury Cases

Now that you are aware of how important it is to get witness statements, here are some ways you can secure them:

• Act fast

You must understand that the longer you delay in getting a witness statement, the less accurate the statement will be. Unfortunately, less accurate statements can count against you instead of for you. This is because a witness statement can be made a fact in court. Hence, you should go back to the scene as soon as possible and identify witnesses to get their statements.

• Ask for specific details.

When asking about the events of the accident, it is important to establish facts. Ask specific questions about the event, such as the people, time of day, other events that happened simultaneously, and many other things they could remember from the incident. This can establish your case, uncover events that can support your case, and open new avenues.

• Get formal statements from witnesses

While getting initial accounts from witnesses is good, it is better to get official statements. Usually, a lawyer or a law enforcement officer will be needed for this purpose to ensure there is no coercion and that the witnesses speak independently.

Conclusion

Witness statements can be the deciding factor between winning a personal injury trial and losing it in New Jersey. They can serve as the bedrock of your case, so it is essential that you gather them properly and use them right. With a good personal injury lawyer, you can be sure that the witness statements will get you the compensation you deserve.