Winning Car Accident Claims: 3 Questions To Ask When Cross-Examining Witnesses For Opposing Party
The aftermath of a car accident can be rather costly. A non-fatal, but disabling, car accident can cost you about $70,200 according to the National Safety Council. To avoid footing the entire bill or to obtain some form of compensation from the accident from the opposing party, speak with a car accident attorney immediately. If the opposing party will present witnesses to support their case, your attorney will have an opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses. During this time, your attorney will ask as many questions as possible to get a better idea of how the accident unfolded. These three points in particular can be very telling.
Their Location from the Accident
Before cross-examining any witnesses, your car accident attorney will want to draw out the layout of the scene of the accident to determine where each party was situated and located. From there, your car accident attorney will want to determine where each witness was located and should be placed. This can tell your attorney whether there were any obstructions that might have prevented the witness from getting an accurate account of the accident as it unfolded.
Whether They Have Any Visual Problems
A look into the witnesses' medical files can also provide information to their credibility. In particular, your attorney will want to question the witnesses to determine whether they have perfect vision. If they do not, your attorney will want to pinpoint the type of visual problems that they struggle with and whether they were wearing any eyeglasses or contact lenses at the time of the accident. They'll want to compare this information to the lighting at the scene, along with the length of time that the witnesses spent watching the accident.
What They Were Doing at the Time of the Accident
Understanding what the witness was doing at the time of the accident can also be beneficial for your case. Your attorney will want to determine whether the witness was actively participating in an activity that might have prevented them from playing close attention to the accident and the events that unfolded. For example, if they were taking care of their baby at that time, they might have been distracted and might have missed some vital events that led to the accident unfolding.
Conclusion
The cross-examination of witnesses for the opposing party can give your attorney more insight as to the type of evidence that the opposing party has, along with whether the testimonies provided will be credible. Your attorney will want to collect as much information as possible from the cross-examination in order to determine whether there are any inconsistencies in the case that might benefit your position.
To learn more, contact a company like Monohan & Blankenship.
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