Witness testimony can be an important piece of evidence to validate your personal injury claim. But because witnesses may forget the details about your accident, it is important to preserve the account of a witness. If you have been injured in Los Angeles, you must work with a lawyer who knows the importance of witness statements and preserving them. They will help you find witnesses and get their statements to support your claim.
Why Witness Testimony Must Be Preserved?
If somebody witnessed your accident, they can support your claim that the negligence of another party is to blame for causing the accident. However, some witnesses may no longer remember your accident in detail weeks or months following the accident. That is why preserving their testimony is important.
In addition, a key witness could suffer from a medical condition or have sustained serious injuries in the same accident. In either case, you must take steps to preserve their account of the accident. They might be able to give information that can validate or support your claim. Also, your lawyer may need to preserve witness testimony because the witness might not be able to appear at your trial. Although they can be forced to testify, this might not be possible if they are not in the state or country.
Getting Witness Testimony?
Although you must allow your lawyer to handle witness interviews, you can take some steps right after the accident to help preserve witness statements. But you must only try to get statements from witnesses if it is safe to do so and you are physically able to. Apart from getting the contact information of the witness, you should also consider asking if they would let you record their statement on your phone, if they can give an official stamen to law enforcement, or if they can write down what they have seen at the accident scene. Your lawyer can use this information as they build your case.
What Your Attorney Will Do to Preserve Witness Testimony
Your attorney might request a witness to sign a sworn statement or affidavit. They can submit the signed document to the court as a reference when needed. Also, they have the witness attend a deposition where they can be cross-examined by both parties’ counsel. Lastly, your lawyer can ask a judge to speed up the discovery process if a key witness cannot attend a trial due to their circumstances.