Testimonies And Car Accident Cases: What You Need To Know

Involvement in a car accident is upsetting and stressful, even if you were not directly involved. While most car accidents settle with insurance companies or out of court, some cases do go before a judge. If this happens, you may be called in for a testimony.

If you are called as a witness in a car accident case, you need to fully understand what you need to do once you get on the witness stand. Here are some things you should know before you are called as a witness:

What Is a Testimony?

Your testimony in a car accident case is a crucial piece of evidence. Similar to pictures of the accident and the police report, a testimony is just as important. A testimony is a spoken account of the events of the accident. You as a witness provides the account of events under oath.

You may have the option to testify, or you may be required to do so with a subpoena. If you have a choice in the matter, discuss your need to testify with your attorney. If your attorney does not believe your testimony will impact your case in a positive way, he or she may advise you not to do so. If you testify, keep in mind that the attorney for the other party will have the opportunity to cross-examine you. When this happens, you need to remain as calm as possible. Your attorney will help prepare you for your testimony so you only provide the information necessary to the case.

Is the Testimony Necessary?

Your testimony may or may not be necessary to prove the case. A car accident attorney may determine if your testimony is necessary and relevant to the details at hand. He or she will also evaluate if the testimony could negatively impact the case through cross-examination. If all the details you can provide are already in the police report, or other witnesses have the same information you have, your attorney may decide to keep you off the witness stand.

What If You Receive a Subpoena?

If you receive a subpoena to testify, you have to show up and testify no matter what. Those who receive a subpoena in a car accident case are generally for those who have significant information that no one else can attest to. If you fail to show up for your testimony, you can be held in contempt of court and end up facing jail time.