Why Are Witnesses Important in an Illinois Personal Injury Case?

 Posted on June 21,2021 in Personal Injury Lawsuits

If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to pursue compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim. However, a successful claim typically requires substantial evidence of the negligence at hand and the damages you have suffered. Depending on the situation, this can include physical evidence, photos and videos, documented reports, and more. Various types of witness testimony can also be invaluable when it comes to supporting your claim.

Witnesses to the Incident

Whether you have been injured in a car accident, a slip and fall, a dog attack, or some other situation, chances are that someone saw it happen. Eyewitnesses can help you establish the circumstances surrounding your injuries to determine whether they were caused by a negligent act or some other incident that would entitle you to damages. Eyewitnesses can include many different people, such as:

• Friends, family, and acquaintances who were with you at the time of your injuries
• People who were with the negligent party at the time of your injuries, as a passenger in the other vehicle
• Bystanders in the surrounding area
• Law enforcement officers who saw the incident happen or responded to the scene

Other types of witnesses can also help you establish the negligence of another party. For example, a person familiar with the other party could speak to a pattern of dangerous behavior similar to the act that caused your injuries. Expert witnesses like car accident reconstruction specialists can also speak to the likely causes and effects of a collision.

Witnesses to Your Damages

In addition to demonstrating another party’s negligence, you will need to demonstrate that you have suffered actual losses as a result of the other party’s actions. All personal injury cases involve damages for the costs of medical care, and your health care providers can serve as valuable expert witnesses to speak to the specific injuries you have suffered and the ongoing treatment you will need.

If you are pursuing compensation for lost wages, your doctors can also speak to how your injuries limit your work abilities. Your employer can speak to your job responsibilities that are impeded by your injuries, as well as any time you have missed from work and the compensation you would have received for that time.

If you are pursuing non-economic damages for pain and suffering, testimony from physical and mental health care providers is also important. You can also ask your close friends and family members to provide testimony as witnesses to the effects of your injuries on your day-to-day life.

Contact a Waukegan, IL Personal Injury Lawyer

At Salvi & Maher, LLC, our Lake County personal injury attorneys will help you start building your claim as soon as possible, including by identifying any witnesses who can provide relevant testimony on your behalf. We can use this testimony and other evidence to negotiate for fair compensation in a settlement or make the case for a verdict in your favor in court. For a free consultation, contact us today at 847-662-3303.

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=2017&ChapterID=56