Few injuries are more devastating than traumatic brain injuries. That said, if you believe you’ve sustained such an injury due to no fault of your own, you likely have a path to legal recourse and financial compensation, which will provide you with the resources you need to get your life back on track. However, to win a personal injury claim, you’ll need to prove that you were hurt as a direct result of another party’s negligence. One crucial type of evidence in personal injury cases is witness testimony. Please continue reading and reach out to a seasoned Connecticut brain injury lawyer from Casper & de Toledo to learn more about the value of witness testimony, some different types of witnesses, and how to best approach gathering witness testimony. Here are some of the questions you may have:
How can witness testimony help me win my TBI claim?
Witness testimony can prove invaluable when establishing the cause and effect of your TBI. To start, witnesses can speak about how your accident occurred, the injuries you sustained, and your behavior immediately following the accident. A credible witness can also supply any other information that may be relevant to your case and supports your claim.
There are different types of witnesses that can help you with your TBI claim, such as eyewitnesses (people who saw the accident happen or were present at the scene), lay witnesses (people who know you personally or professionally and can testify about how your TBI has affected your life), and expert witnesses (professionals who have specialized knowledge or experience in a relevant field and can offer their opinions on your TBI).
How should I go about gathering witness testimony?
To gather witness testimony for your TBI claim, you and your attorney will take the following steps:
- Promptly identify witnesses in the aftermath of the accident. Some of the best ways to track down witnesses after an accident are through police reports, medical records, photos, videos, or social media posts. You can also ask your family members, friends, co-workers, or employers if they are willing to testify on your behalf, especially if they can attest to your condition prior to the incident and how the incident has affected your life going forward. For example, if someone who has known you all your life says that you’ve experienced a drastic shift in mood or personality, it may serve as a credible and valuable testimony.
- Reach out to witnesses and explain your purpose for doing so. You should explain to them exactly why their testimony is important for your case and what they can expect from the process. You should also obtain their contact information and availability for interviews or depositions. A lawyer can help you do so.
- Prepare the witnesses for their testimony. Your lawyer will review with the witnesses the facts of the accident and your injuries and ask them to recall what they saw or heard. Your attorney will also likely prepare witnesses for possible questions from the other side and advise them to be honest and consistent in their answers.
- Present the witnesses at trial or settlement negotiations. Your lawyer can help you decide which witnesses are most relevant and persuasive for your case and how to present their testimony effectively.
If you need help with gathering witness testimony or any other aspect of your TBI claim, simply speak with a seasoned Connecticut brain injury lawyer from Casper & de Toledo today so we can get started working on your case.
