Do I Need Witnesses For My Personal Injury Claim?

When you sustain a personal injury, you and your personal injury attorney want to present the best possible case to the jury so as to get you the maximum amount of compensation possible. While a strong case doesn’t necessarily require the testimony of witnesses who observed the accident that led to your injury, having that testimony available certainly makes your slip and fall lawyer job easier. How? Witnesses’ independent and unbiased testimony can corroborate your version of what happened and how it happened. As a result, you’re not left with a he-said-she-said testimonial battle between you and the defendant who will probably not admit fault unless forced to.

No one wants to be involved in a personal injury claim, but if you are, it is important to have the right legal representation. Many people mistakenly believe that they do not need a lawyer because the insurance company will simply take care of everything. However, when dealing with an insurance company, it is always in their best interest to pay out as little as possible. This is why you need a slip and fall lawyer like Presser Law, P.A who understands how to deal with insurance companies on your behalf. By having Presser Law, P.A, you can focus on healing from your injury while they take care of the legalities. 

Witness Preparation

Assuming you have witnesses, one of your lawyer’s most important jobs is that of  preparing them to testify in court. Most people find courtrooms intimidating, at best, and often become nervous and unsure of themselves when called to testify. Your lawyer’s effective witness preparation is designed to forestall such problems.

Given that the ultimate results of any lawsuit, personal injury or otherwise, depend on the credibility, i.e., believability, of the witnesses, the importance of witness preparation cannot be overstated. After all, if the jury believes your witnesses’ testimony, it is far more likely to give you the compensation you’re seeking. Conversely, an incredible witness can severely hurt your case.

Naturally, no lawyer is going to suggest or imply that a witness should lie under oath. That is called suborning perjury, and is grounds for the lawyer’s disbarment. However, your slip and fall lawyer can – and should – prepare your witnesses in such a way that they not only tell the “right” story, but also are confident in telling it in the “right” way. In other words, your lawyer should spend enough time with each witness before trial so that he or she is comfortable with the questions that likely will be asked – especially by the defendant’s attorney on cross-examination – and the answers he or she will give. This should prevent waffling, hedging or otherwise becoming incredible if and when the defense attorney asks a difficult question or attempts to rephrase a question already answered in an attempt to get the witness to say something different than he or she said during direct examination.

Your Testimony

If you have no witnesses, then your own testimony becomes paramount. Again, you need to tell the truth under oath, but it’s perfectly fine to tell your story in the strongest possible manner.

If you are injured in a slip and fall accident, it is important to seek legal assistance from a slip and fall lawyer like Presser Law, P.A who can help protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.