When do Car Accident Witnesses Have Good Credibility?
- Home / Auto Accidents /
- When do Car Accident Witnesses Have Good Credibility?
May 20, 2021
When crash victims file claims for compensation, it is often their word against the word of the at-fault driver and his or her insurance company. That is why objective evidence can be so important, such as an eyewitness account of the accident.
However, the witness needs to be credible ”“ you can bet the insurance company will immediately look for some way to attack the witness’ credibility.
Below, learn more about the importance of witness credibility when filing a car accident claim, including things that make witnesses credible. If you have questions about using a witness’ testimony to help bolster your claim, give Phillips Law Group a call.
Our auto accident lawyers in Phoenix have helped many crash victims seek compensation and have used witness accounts to help our clients. An initial consultation to see how we may be able to assist you is free of charge.
Importance of Credibility
There is no reason for an insurance company or jury to take a witness seriously if he or she lacks credibility. For example, if the witness has a documented history of lying to the police or insurance companies, you cannot rely on this person to tell the truth on your behalf.
It can also be difficult to take a witness seriously if he or she has a criminal record, even though those criminal charges likely have nothing to do with the accident in question.
Credibility is also determined by the relationship of the witness to the accident victim. No matter how upstanding someone may be, it is hard to believe any victim’s relative would be able to provide an objective account of the crash. Juries and insurance companies are likely to say this person is only saying things favorable to your case because family members often feel an obligation to help each other.
Credibility is also impacted by the witness’ view of the crash and his or her actions while it was going on. For example, the witness may have been moving out of the way as the crash was happening. This raises questions about how much the witness was able to see while moving his or her vehicle to a safer location.
Other Factors Impacting Credibility
There are a variety of other factors that may impact the credibility of a car accident witness:
- Hostility from the witness
- Activities the witness was engaged in before the crash
- Plausibility of the witness’ account of the accident
- Inconsistency in the witness’ statements
- Visual impairment
- The witness’ vantage point during the crash
- How long the witness saw the vehicles before and during the crash
- Whether the witness saw the entire crash or only turned to look after hearing the collision
- Whether the witness has been convicted of a felony
- Whether the witness is a friend of the victim
- Whether the witness gets easily confused, such as if he or she is elderly
- Whether the witness had been drinking or was under the influence of drugs
- Whether the witness has impaired hearing
- Whether the witness was distracted by something
These are all things your lawyer may investigate when considering the testimony of a witness to the crash. While a credible witness can provide testimony that may strengthen a claim, a witness who lacks credibility could do considerable damage to a claim. That is one of the reasons witness credibility is so important.
If there are multiple witnesses, your lawyer needs to determine if their accounts of the crash line up. Differing testimony does not necessarily indicate someone is lying. People often have different vantage points and certain aspects of the crash may stand out to them compared to others.
It is important to discuss witness testimony with your lawyer. He or she can help determine if it may help your claim. Make sure to tell your attorney if you are suspicious of anything the witnesses have said. Sometimes you may get a sense someone lacks credibility, and your lawyer can determine if this is reasonable.
Schedule Your Free Consultation Today
Car crash claims can become complicated, especially because the insurance company is working against your best interests. You need an experienced advocate at your side helping to build a strong case and negotiating the insurance company to make a fair offer.
Phillips Law Group is here to assist you after a car crash that was not your fault. Our licensed attorneys have obtained millions in compensation on behalf of our clients, many of whom were victims of car crashes. There are no upfront fees or obligations with our services.
We have obtained millions for our clients. Call: 1-800-706-3000
Free Case Evaluation
By submitting your contact information, you agree that we may contact you by telephone (including text) and email in accordance with our Terms and Privacy Policy

Your message has been sent
Thank you for your message, we will get back to you soon.
Categories:
-
I would like to thank Vanessa Rodriguez for helping me with my case because I was in total shock about the accident. She had listened to all my concerns and had answered every question I had . She was great !!!
-
Working at Phillips Law Group has been a blessing from the beginning for me and I am extremely thankful to work for a firm that values their employees so much. Here I believe we are a huge family of hard working people that can bring a sense of comfort to our client’s lives in times of hardships, stress and chaos. From intake to Settlement we strive to provide the best customer care to all of our wonderful clients. With a 4.8 rating and over 1100+ star reviews on Google no surprise our firm is extremely well known for the quality of work we do!! #teamPLG!!
-
Great experience! Took care of pretty much everything, and I always felt like I want in good hands. Caroline Fa. was also a great help with everything. She always returned my calls and I never felt unheard. Even after my case she would still help me with my insurance documents.
-
Working at Phillips Law Group has been great the 1st few years in I noticed how well organized and run this Firm was from Intake to Settlement the Client has the expertise of a staff member uniquely qualified for the particular stage of each Clients claim and all other Law firms try to emulate what we do here but none quite get it right because they lack one major component “Compassion”. We are a FAMILY not just a group of people/employees. We care deeply about each other and our clients’ we are considerate, compassionate and make sure that all our Clients’ needs are met from beginning to end. That’s because we treat our clients just like we treat each other. Nothing like walking through the office and saying Hello to fellow employees who always seem to be smiling. 16yrs in and it only seems to be getting better.
-
Great company and awesome service. Thanks Caroline fabos. Kudos to all.
-
Thank you Phillips Law Group for all the support and back to school assistance we appreciate it.
-
Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value As someone who is familiar with the inner workings of the auto insurance industry I can whole heartedly endorse Steven J. Jones and Phillips law group as someone I would want on my side should litigation take place. They handled my case professionally, honestly, and with satisfactory results which I would not have expected without enlisting their help.
-
I want to thank attorneys Tim and Robert and the paralegal Bethany for all they had done on my case. They were all empathetic, knowledgeable and professional. All my questions were answered, emails returned in a timely matter, and promises fulfilled. I recommend Phillips Law Group if you need help with your injury case.
-
I tried a few previous law firms and none would take my car accident case with confidence they could get my anything. Phillips law group took my case and although it took around 4 years to get this case settled as I was in treatment, they never let up with insurance adjusters and they got me as much money as possible. They worked hard for me and advocated for me. Shoutout to key individuals who worked my case nonstop of the years, Robert Ross & Jasmine, you are AMAZING!
-
Phillips Law Group does so much for the community!!! I especially enjoy seeing Juan Roque out there. This gentle giant always has a smile on his face and is a part of a caring and giving team.