Different evidence forms impact a car accident claim. Evidence coming from the objective source is considered stronger than the subjective one like your opinion on the cause of the accident. This is the reason witnesses play an essential role in accident claims. 

Why is witness important?

While many drivers are interested in letting other drivers found guilty of the accident and in maximizing their damages, innocent people are often considered as an objective. They don’t get anything by telling a lie about any event leading up to the collision. 

They are often trusted to offer an honest account as the accident is concerned. 

When two or more drivers are involved and have different versions in an accident, witness works the best. The insurance adjuster determines the accurate account based upon the account of third-party witnesses. 

How to understand the credibility of a witness?

Credibility means how much a witness can be believed and trusted. While you might justify supporting yourself regarding whatever happened, a jury or an insurance adjuster might consider your wordings biased, since you are impacted directly by the claim outcomes. 

This is why it is essential to have witnesses in your support. They will let everyone know about the accident.

However, it is not necessary that having two or more witnesses make a case stronger. Credibility is something that plays an essential role; it doesn’t matter even if you have one witness. 

Factors impacting credibility in a car accident claim

Various factors impact the credibility of a witness while considering a claim from a Houston TX car accident attorney. These are:

• Any criminal record prior, especially if you were dishonest
• A reputation for being a dishonest person
• Cognitive issues like getting confused easily
• Any interest in case outcome like testimony support 
• Any kind of impairment when the accident occurred

Specifically, certain factors are affecting the credibility of a person as a witness, like:

• Witness role

It is essential to know if the witness was present in any of the vehicles as he or she might know the driver. If the witness is driving another vehicle passing nearby, he or she might have focused clearly on the driving of a suspect.

• How much the witness has observed

It also plays an imperative role in how much a witness has seen. If he or she only saw when everything got finished, there are chances that the testimony might not be credible. 

• Person in distance

If the person was standing nearby such as someone crossing the accident scene but was not close enough, he or she will be considered credible.

• Consistent statements

The jury or insurer might compare the statements made by the witness at different times, such as while talking to the officer and any testimony given by the witness in court to determine their credibility. 

If you are harmed in an accident, consider hiring an attorney who will be prepared to investigate and help in identifying the witnesses ready to help you.