DO I HAVE TO TESTIFY IN COURT?
The question of whether you have to testify and stand as a witness for a car accident case is determined by whether the case goes to trial. Most car accident cases are resolved before any trial takes place. If your car accident case does not get resolved through settlement, then there are certain things you need to know. Let’s take a closer look:
Witness Testimony as Evidence
When an accident case goes to court, both parties produce evidence to support the claims they are making. For instance, to validate how the car accident occurred, the victim’s (plaintiff’s) attorney will call him/her to testify to the events leading to the collision. The attorney may also call bystanders to testify. A lawyer may also ask questions directly to the victim regarding all the injuries and damage suffered.
Apart from witness testimony, there are several other types of evidence an attorney may introduce in a trial:
DEMONSTRATIVE EVIDENCE:
Sound recordings, videos, photos, x-rays, and sketches can be presented as demonstrative evidence.PHYSICAL EVIDENCE:
Any evidence that is submitted in the form of a physical object.DIGITAL EVIDENCE:
Evidence obtained from electronic sources such as cellphone records, ATM transactions, hard drives, and emails.
If you plan to testify a fact that is crucial to validate the case and you are confident about what you saw and remember, it’s always a good idea. But if you’re not quite sure about what you saw, it could be brought up by the lawyer in opposition for cross-examination. Hence, it’s better not to testify in such instances.
CONTACT A CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
Following a car accident, it’s important to ensure that your legal rights are protected and you get the compensation you are entitled to. Most car accident cases are settled outside the courtroom. But if it goes to the trial stage, you’ll need a competent attorney to protect your interests.
IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE IS IN NEED OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE, CONTACT US NOW.
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Contact the Law Offices of L. Clayton Burgess. We have a long trail of happy clients throughout Louisiana.
